Morning journal and courier., 1883-01-31
SournaI aao Gourier.
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 1888.
THE ,CITY ATTORNEY.

Much interest is felt in the, appointments to be made by Judge 6tudleys who was re- gently elected Judge of the City court of New Haven. The principal office at his dis- posal is that of Prosecuting Attorney, now held by Rufus S. Pickett. Mr. Pickett has got into such habit of being Prosecu uting Attorney, having acted as such fer number of years, that he naturally does not want a change, and though he was decidedly op- posed to Judge Studley's election he would not shrink from the coals of fire which Judge Studley would heap upon his head by contin- uing him in office. Indeed, he and some of his friends are doing all they can to insure the heaping.
 While the contest Gf we may call such a mild affair oontest9 which resulted in the election of Judge 6tudley was in progress he very wisely refused to make any promises or bargains which would bind him in the matter of his appointmensE And we suppose that he has not yse made mp his mind concerning them. If he has he has not disclosed his purposes. It does not make much difference who fill some of the subordinate offices in the City court, provided they are honest and
 
 Attorney is very important one. It is not too much to say that good Prosecuting At torney is quite as necessary as good judge. He really stands at the head of the administra- tion ofcriminal law in the city. All cases which come before the City court must be brought through him or his assistant. His office is not only executive but in au important sense judicial. A capable Prosecuting Attorney will often show as much discrimination in those cases which he declines to prosecute as in those he does prosecute. The community is often better served by refusal to prosecute in cases even where a conviction can be se- cured, than by prosecution. It is needless to say that the City Attorney ought to be an able lawyer, of judicious and impartial mind. He should thoroughly understand men. He should be firm and severe when necessary and yet capable of sympathy and timely leniency. He should not regard his office as part of the party machinery but to him every citizen should be equal before the law. He should be governed by principle rather than policy.
 Doubtless there are those who think MT. Pickett the ideal Prosecuting Attorney, who answers all the requirements mentioned above and has gifts in addition which make 1t desirable for him to hold the office as long as he can be persuaded to do 50. We have no quarrel with those who think, or profess to think, that if Mir. Pickett were not the Prosecuting Attorney of New Haven the city would be a prey to the vicious and the crimi- nal. We do, however, think they are mis- taken, and VIC also think that his administra- ton can be improved upon in many impor- tant particulars In the first place, there are many better lawyers than Mir. Pickett who could be induced to accept the posi- tion And while 1t may be argued that no extensive knowledge of law is need ed by the holder of this office, it is the gen. eral opinion among ths members of the bar in this city that more law could have been used to advantage than has been exhibited in it's administration during the past few years. Mir. Pickett has nos only fallen short of the requirements of the office as lawyer. but he has not shown conspicuous discretion in the cases he has brought. It is also the opinion of those who know most about the City court that he has often displayed bit terness and prejudice which should have no of his office. He has been accused, and we think justly, of undue severity and lack of sympathy in many cases where leniency and kindly feeling would have done him credit. And it is charged, apparently with reason, that he has not been impartial and equally zealeus in prosecuting all classes of offenders and offenses.
 If we have correctly stated the facts, and we believe that those best acquainted with the proceedings in the City court will recog- nize that we have, it is plain that Judge Etudley can begin his administration in better way than by reappointing MT. PicIxafE