The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-07-22

UlllIsLTdIlOll OI Justice Is tfle highest hu-
man office. 1t includes the whole science
of government, the making, the interpre-
tafion and the execution Of laws: aud the
highest Of these is the Interpretation Of
laws Anybody can make laws, which
may be good or bad and any one can exc
cute them that has sword; but TO obey
the charge that Moses gave TO his Judges,
Ito hear the causes between your breth-
rcn, and ludgc rIGhteOusly between every
man and his brother and the stranger that
Is with hun. to hear the small as we'll as
the great and not to fear the face Of man
requires the highest attributes Of human
nature. 80 solomon thought. and 50 God
himself declared. FOR. when Solomon
succeeded his father David to the throne,
cod, dcsrous Of bcstoWing on him the
best oft asked him what He should give
him solomon rccountcd the great
things that God had done for David, and
the great things He had done for him III
preserving the Kingdom Tor him and max
lug hIm KING Of 50 great a people; and
then, as a greater and as the greatest
blessing, he asked God to give him an un-
derstandmg heart to Judge the people, that
he might discern between good and bad.
Ard God said, because thou hast asked
this thing, and hast not asked for thysef
long life, nor riches, nor honor, nor the
lives of thy enemies, 10, | have given thee
a wise and understanding heart 50 that
there was none like thee before thee,
neither after thee shall any arise like unto
thee. And then. Immediately following
is the account of the celebrated case, in
which he delivered the Judgment which
made him famous the world over until
this day
Judges wisdom consists not alone in
his learning This, without the power 70
discern between good and bad is of little
worth Solomon had no precedent, and
quoted no authorities for his wondrous
decision; but he was guided by his good
sense, by his knowledge of human nature,
and by his wise and understanding heart.
| would not be understood as saying,
that much learning is not necessary for a
Judge; or that q reasonable display of 1t is
unbecoming; but it may be that in some
eases, there is too much st aiming after
what somebody else has said i'll slightly
similar cases | make this suggestion
tmidly, as | may have sinned myself in
this regard: but it is lazinesS to take the
lazy and irrelevant thoughts of others to
ill up 4 long opinion, very learned and
very silly, instead of following the example
of solomon, to give the thoughts of 4 wise
and understanding heart on the very case
in hand.
" q nave now seen Illc CnitEdclcT Ol tt
judge, his dignity and office, and the rev
erence due and paid him by the young, by
the aged and by the noble as described by
Moses, Job, by Solomon, and by God him
self
But it is the Judge of the Superior Court
that holds his court III the gate, as Job
did, among the people, that has the OPP
portunlty to exercise the greatest influence.
1t is still true that the young make way
for him; the aged arise and stand up, and
the noble keep silence before him; and this
out of reverence for his office, without re-
gard to the man. No Judge can hold his
court without exercising decided influ-
ence on the bar, on the suitorS and wit
nesses, and on the crowd. They listen to
him, hang on his words, and if he has a
wise and understanding heart they lean
on him and trust him. 1t is Il high duty
of the bar to cultivate and to encourage
this reverence for the courts and Judges
Any failure in this is grossly unprofes
sional, and ought to exclude from mem
berShip in this association.
There is, however, a danger which Il
Judge guard himself against. The respect
and Difference which is justly paid him,
may generate self esteem, arrogance, pride
haughtlneSs, oppression And these or
any one of them, unfit him for a Judge
Moses, although the chief judge and leader
Of his people, was the meekest OF men.
Job, although the greatest of his time, was
the humblest and most patient of men.
And Solomon, although the wisest of any
age, was the simplest of men; and said.
4 am little child; and know not how to
go out, or how to come in."
Meekness, humility, simplicity and wis
dom, are qualities of a good Judge; and
they are as requisite at this day rs 1T any
age of the world