Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-02-14

A SESSION OF THE SUPREME COURT
In the Century, i. V. Smalley writes o.
| "The supreme court of the United States
in an admirably instructive and entertain.
ing manner, and the portraits and charac
ter sketches of the court in session finely
supplement the text. The formality o
opening the court is described as follows
When - o'clock comes, there are
perhaps dozen lawyers sitting at the
tables within the bar, and score o
spectators waiting on the crimson plush
sofa for the court to open. A rustic of silk
is heard from the open door leading to the
retiring rooms. At the other side of the
chamber sits young man at desk, who
has been listening for n few minutes for
that sound. lie rises and announces in a
clear voice: The Honorable the Chiei
Justice and Associate Justices of the
Supreme Court of the United States
whereupon lawyers and spectators all get
on their feet. The rustling approaches,
and there enters a procession of nine digpi-
fed old men clad in black silk gowns that
reach almost 10 their feet, with wide
sleeves and ample skirts. At the head
walks the chief justice, and the others
follow in the order of their length of ser.
vice in the court. They stand moment
in front of their chairs, and all bow at
once to the bar. The lawyers return the
salute; then the judges sit down, the asso-
ciates being careful, however, not to occupy
their chairs before the chief Justice is
settled in his. Now the young man who
is crier, eXclaims, in monotonous fashion
"Oyez! oyez! oyez! All persons having
business before the honorable supreme
court of the United States are admonished
to draw near and give their attention, for
the court is now sitting. God save the
United States and the honorable court!'
Business begins promptly and is dis.
patched rapidly. First, motions are heard,
then the docket is taken up. The chief
justice calls the case in order in a quiet
tone, and lawyer is on the floor making
an argument. while you are still expecting
that there will be some further formality
attending the opening of so august a
tribunal.
The proceedings are impressive only
from their simplicity. Usually the
arguments of counsel are delivered in
low, conversational tones. Often the
judges interrupt to ask questions. In
patent cases, models of machinery are
frequently used to illustrate an argument,
and are handed up to the judges for
examination. or a blackboard is used for
diagrams. Were il not for the gray hair
and black gowns of the judges, you might
almost imagine at times that the gentleman
at the blackboard, with crayon in hand,
was acollege professor lecturing to a class.
Or you may happen in when a lawyer in
charge of n case is leaning over the long
desk in front of the judges, holding u
conversation with one of them on some
intricate point in mechanical Device and
you would hardly think that the court was
in session and that the conversation was
the plea in patent case involving,
perhaps, n million of dollars.
The bench has long been only tradi-
ton in all our courts. Each justice of the
supreme court has chair to suit his own
notions of what constitutes n comfortable
seat. Some of the chairs have high backs
to rest the head, some have low backs;
some have horse hair cushions, some
velvet, some no cushions at all. Chief
Justice Waite sits in the middle of the
row.