The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1885-05-09
LAWYERS IN MEXICO.

in the New York Tribune: In
this city one sees no lawyers
signs, no offices, and few cards or
anything indicating the existence
of lawyers. And one might wan
der all day through the great gal.
leries and courts Of the Palace Of
Justice without suspecting the ex.
istence of legal talent among the
Numerous well dressed gentlemen
seen there with neither books nor
papers in hand or chatting with
each other about everything but
business. There are, however,
plenty of lawyers in Mexico and
plenty of good ones, too. But 1t
is very "bad form" to have a
sign and shocking to advertise.
The lawyers Office is at his private |
house or suite of rooms, and he
says 'come to my house" instead
of "come to my office.n His Of
fee at home is often fitted up in
fine style, with a library abound
ing in law books in Latin, French
and English, most Of which he can
read quite well in the original.
The Office is often decorated with
statuary and pictures and perhaps
opens on a courtyard abounding
in flowers and sunshine. He
dresses in the best style; and a
light cane, black silk hat, broad
cloth coat and "spring bottom"
trousers seem indispensable to
his respectability.
In Mexico the lawyer is held in
higher respect than in many parts
of the United States. lie has to
take a long course of study and
pass q rigorous examination; the
whole course, preparatory and To-
gal, requiring in some States elev'
ell years. The impossibility OF q
gross ignoramus getting through
raises the general grade OF the
profession far higher than in the
United States. In the country
y there are many pettifoggers who
0 practice before the lower courts
but these do not rank as lawyers
0 and cannot practice in the highel
Q courts. The "shyster" elemen
n seems quite unknown among th'
r licensed members of the bar in th'
" City of Mexico. The judges can
/. not be distinguished from the res
l. Of the bar, and are not general,
I, as old as in the United States
., But in all but the very loves
IS courts the judge must be lawye
4 with 4 certain number Of years Q
70 practice.
g The politeness Of the Mexican
le is nowhere SO conspicuous as |
u the courts. The judge seems t
1t remember that he was once at th
le bar himself, and is extremol
l obliging to the attorneys; "
70 there are no attempts on the
o. part to impose on him. One heal
T. no beating Of witnesses, n
Jokes cracked on an embarrasse
simpleton. In civil cases OF IN
!. portance the evidence is general
y written gown by public scriv
! !" ner, and the questions in crimin
:. cases are nearly always asked |
- - the Judge. They have no sue
rules about the admissibility
- evidence as In the United State
" and q witness may say about an
:, thing he thinks pertinent to u
" issue. This may be an evil in OF
!" way, but it does away entire
- with the little jump.up attorn'
" with his everlasting III object
:. :. and the long squabble that f
~ lows, and actually facilitates d
patch of business. The peculi
=" cast of the Mexican mind max
1t sublimely Indifferent to the |
portant difference. between TIVE
Ier dledum and tweedledee. Com
,rt quently there is very little SEQ
ia for those subtle intellects who
an American courts fight off a ca
he for years on mere technicaliti
ri. There are of course ways enou
mt to delay a case, and labyrini
Gle enough that can be threaded ol
nts by those having the proper Gle
pre but there are few cases dismiss,
Tia. and few meritorious suitors 81
na. jected to heavy costs and loss
nts time because an attorney, who
ra. license is held out to the world
lgh competent, has made a trifii
rse mistake in matter which in
way affects the merits of the ca
and cannot possibly surprise
ho' prejudice the opposite party
'h." his attorney.
ght There is, however abundant ro
you for the exercise of brains ii
w." Mexican lawsuit. The rulo st
decisis has little application hi
10 and every case is to a certain
les, tent tried de nevo. The jud
der listen respectfully to precede
- II -.