The Portland daily press., 1884-05-06
The Retirement of Judge Lowell.

Judge Lowell, whose resignation as judge OF
the circuit court of the United States takes ef'
feet to-day, has occupied position upon the
bench for nearly twenty years. He was APP
pointed district judge upon the retirement OK
Judge Sprague, by President Lincoln. March
II, 1865, and circuit judge by President Hayes
upon the death of Judge Shepley, December
Is, 1873. 1t is somewhat singular coincidence
that his great-grandfather, whose name was ale
so John Lowell, held the same two offices, haY.
ing been the first district judge for this dis.
trict under tie Constitution, by appointment
OF Washington, in 1889, and chief justice OF tho
circuit court, court which was abolished .
year later, by appointment Of John Adams in
1901.
The Office of district or circuit judge, in this
circuit is at all times one of much importance.
The causes which come before those courts
generally involve largo interests to individu-
ais or to the public. Their decision also de-
ponds, in peculiar degree, upon the judg-
ment OF single Judge, both upon the law and
facts; and, as the court is at present constitute
cd, the opportunity OF revising its Judgments,
by appeal to a court in banc, is not as great rs
in our State tribunals.
But the term OF service filed by Judge Low
been OF special importance in the history OF
these courts. He was called in 1866 to succeed
Judge Sprague, the business Of the district
court having greatly accumulated by the ILL
ness Of that distinguished Judge for more than
a year previous 20 his retirement. The war,
also, by the increase of taxation, rendered nee
essary by the public debt, brought 3 multiple
cation OF internal revenue laws and an increase
OF business in tie f'Asral courts, which were
thus brought into more intimate relations
with all classes Of the people than previously.
There we're also prize cases and other causes
growing out OF state OF war. The bankrupt
law was passed in 1867, and continued in force
for period Of eleven years. The number OF
bankruptcy petitions presented in this district
exceeded by more than 1000 cases that of any
other district in the country. Besides the liti-
CATION growing out of the bankrupt law, and
from the other causes mentioned, there was
the ordinary jurisdiction OF the circuit and dis,
trict courts, which is OF great Importance, es-
pecally in admiralty and patent cases.
These important offices, it IS everywhere
conceded, have been filled by Judge Lowell
with marked ability, and to the great sccep-
lance of the bar and the general public. He
has long been recognized as one Of our most
eminent judges. His reputation has been
growing one and we think it may fairly be said
that, aside from the Supreme Court of the
United States, he has reached position Pec-
ond to no judge ,upoa the bench in the Federal
courts. His opinions are highly valued In all
departments, but especially in bankruptcy, ad-
mirslty aud patent causes. He has also won
in an eminent degree the respect and esteem
of the bar and of all who have had occasion to
frequent the courts. 1t was an illustration OF
the esteem in which he is held in the business
community that he was selected to draft b
bankrupt law which has been favoraby re-
ceved throughout the country, and is expect
ed, with certain notifications, soon to become
the law of the land. However much his re-
trement from the bench may be regretted by
the bar and the general public, it is yet felt
that he has earned the right TO retire by dis
tinenished services long and faithfully rem
dared