The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-05-19
The United States Supreme
Court Judges.

A very pleasant loungiDg-place in
these pleasant spring days is the SUI
preme court room in Washington. If
one likes the flip of sudden change
and contrast, let him walk quickly from
the roar and noise and turmoil of the
house of representatives through the
rotunda to the supreme court. The
door is opened noiselessly for him; he
treads upon carpet so thick and soft
that the soft football makes no sound
and one voice, never but one, is speak
ing in quiet monotone, while the
tators and the judges, prevails. The
courtroom is the old senate chamber,
and it's acoustics is as admirable as its
architecture, and the last is beautiful
An air of repose and solemnity hangs
about it; the court is organized for bust
ness, and nothing is permitted to inter-
fere with it. AT twelve O'Clock pre-
cisely every day during the term, which
lasts from the LIST of October to the LIST
of May, the rustic of the judges silk
robes is heard. The crier, before an
nouncing the honorable justices of the
supreme court, requests everybody to
rise, which is promptly done. The
court, upon entering, makes profound
and ceremonious bow to the lawyers as
sembled, which the lawyers return
with an obeisance Just a shade lower.
Then the justices seat themselves, the
crier announces that the court is sitting,
and business is at once begun.
Lawyers from remote districts, on
first appearing before this great tribu-
nal, often think that fervid oratory and
toploftical rhetoric are the proper
caper. But the silence of the judges
is broken by few brief Interruptions,
which give the high-hying attorney to
understand that the supreme court is
organized to act upon points of law,
not flowers of rhetoric. One of the
justices dryly remarked once, when a
lawyer had appealed his case to the high
court of the blue empyrean: The
blue empyrean, Mr.. Attorney, is out
side the jurisdiction of the court" 1t
is understood that the court wishes to
hear law points presented lucidly and
briefly, and in lawyer-like way. The
supreme court sits to expound the law,
not to hear the evidence. Occasionally
a lawyer is found who attemps to in
struct the court in the law, but he is
invariably and promptly eXtinguished.
Chief-justice Marshall remarked once
to young lawyer, who was laying down
the law for the benefit of the court:
cit would be entirely safe, sir, for you
to assume that the supreme court of the
United States knows something about
the law"
In former times lawyers were ex-
pected to appear before the court in
full evening dress; but that rule has
been relaxed, and the customary dress
for members of the bar is black frock
coat and black trousers. Occasionally
though, a deviation from this is OBJ
served, chiefly among lawyers from the
West, where such things are not closely
attended to, and the court passes it over
But when a western lawyer some time
ago presumed to appear before the
court without cravat, the justices
caused it to be intimated to him that
such free and easy attire was not agree.
able to them.
The supreme court takes precedence
of every other body in the govern
ment, ranking in official etiquette mex
to the President and his official family
On formal occasions the members walk
next the President and his cabinet, ant
they are entertained at dinner at the
White House before either house O.
congress. On the day they organize
for the fall term-the first Monday il
October-they Immediately proceed tt
the White House to pay their respects
formally to the President. AS soon al
the members of the court are usheret
into the east room the President APP
pears. To keep the court waiting fiv'
minutes would be an unpardonabl'
breach of etiquette. On New Year
day, also, they precede everybody else
A discussion arose as to whether tn,
diplomatic corps or the supreme cour
had the right of way at New Years, tn,
diplomats claiming that the New Year
reception was expressly for their bene
fit. Sir Edward Thornton, an impor
tant and fussy parsonage, who was deal
of the diplomatic corps as well a
British minister, used to hustle in ahea,
of the judges, but since his time tn
judges resumed the place to which the
were entitled. While sitting, the jus
tees treat all lawyers exactly alike, tn
country attorney from the lakewood
being accorded the same undivided al
tention as Senator Evarts, Attorney
general Garland, or Senator Edmunds
Nor would the most eminent counse
in the United States dare to assum
any privilege before the court. 1t
related that Mr.. Clay, with that mont
mental and captivating assurance tha
distinguished the great man, stoppe
short one day, in the midst of an argr
ment, and, stepping up to one of tn
justices, who held snuff-box in hi
hand, airily took pinch, remarkin2
" see that your honor sticks to tn
SCOTCH" Justice Story said of it, I"
have been on this bench for thirty-for
years, and do not believe that thel
is man in tho country who could hay
done that but Henry Clay"
The justices are great students, ar
are forced to be. 1t is said by tho'
who knew Chief iusiice Chase that