Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-04-02
The Office of County Judge in the State
of Texas,

The Office Of County Judge in the State
of Texas,
The legislature in providing for the
election of county judge did not re-
quire Chat, to he eligible, he should be
practicing lawyer, but simply well
informed in the law" How the peo'
pie generally have interpreted this
may be seen by the fact that persons
not lawyers have been brought ont
"by the repeated solicitations of
"their many friendsn MS candidates
for the Office of county judge. a jus
tice of the peace who has upheld the
dignity Of that Office for a term or two,
conceives that he las become suili-
GENTLY "well.informed in the law,u
and reluctantly concludes TO be forced
by his friends from his retirement,
and becomes a candidate, just to save
so much "ttnessn from going to waste.
| Or, perchance, a gentleman who has
done honor to his county and himself
rs n sheriff, believes that by serving
citations, writs of attachments, exc
cutions and other wits, and maxi
Ing returns thereon and numerous
amendments thereto, for from two to
} four years, he has become sufficiently
"well informed In the lawn to he will
ing 10 sacrifice his private interests for
the public good, and he becomes can
| dtuuta Dr tnrphan ~ a annu yeptt ms 4,
who has been serving the people fol
years as n member of the legislature
or something of that sort, sees no otheI
chance, aud having no private inter
ests to be sacrificed, comes before tn,
people and asks their suffrage ON tn
ground that lac Is one degree above
/ lawyer, having helped to make tn
= laws. The absurdity Of the idea tina
;. laws could err in interpreting them
Let us suppose one of these gentleme
10 be elected, and we do not deem
I impossible or even improbable. III
& has been duly installed into otlic,
u, gotten over his bushes at being Gale
:, Judge, aud fully impressed with Tia
dignity OF disposition attempts to hol
his first court. The first case is Gale,
e. The defendant before anuouncln
t. ready on the facts desires TO argue hi
N demurrer to the plaintiffs petition
te The argument is heard, the judg
n meantime wondering what III
lawyers are talking about. Slleuc
ensues. He becomes painfully co,
W scious that lie Is expected to do som,
10 thing or say something and he think
y perhaps IL best TO "overrule the M
u tom They proceed to the trial
ef their cause. The new Judge and IL
10 new clerk have managed by the aid
N the statutes aud the two lawyers,
swear the jury. The plaintinprocee,
r. with his testimony. The defendaI
,st frequently COLLECTS The court
So frequently ''overruls the motion.
'os The defendants attorney reminds II
IS, court that this thing is little on
lis sided and that judges should be In
partial" Whereupon he proceeds
NJ sustain every objection and the plat
w till seems about to stick. Impartislit,
ell however, saves him. This Is repeat,
be al ndusedm. But The trial ends. III
~. arguments are over. The judge mu
Al charge the jury. He begins his charg
"6enilemen Of the jury, the cou
,o instrucss you that Is suit betwee
cl. the plaintiff and defendal
M Thus far Il has seemed easy, aud !,
10 had one unassailablc proposition. BIZ
what shall he say next? lie tries
~ think of his opinions rendered viii
=, justice, or OF something he has hear
-, judges say while he has been aiten
-, Ing court. But everything eludes hin
III is all blank. He must tell Il
~ Jury the law of that case; and he ,an
!" think Of anything at all to write. j
~ In despair. But both lawyers la,
' -, been busily writing. The attorn,
- for plaintiff tells him that he has son
!" requests TO charge which he Won
like to have the court consider. N
crs attorney for defendant has lix
Ing wise some requests which he asks Il
en- court to consider. In order TO be re
NY fcctly impartial he reads both TO Il
,on jury. What the one ailirms the 9th
IND denies, but no matter, II Is. read, al