New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-04-14

number By many artaUrities ,psr
any givemlegal proposition, and cits.
so many decisions off-hssnd in support
OF them Justice Blatehferd was for
many years upon the Federal bench,
IN the city OF New York, and natural.
~ Is master OF maritime iurispiu4
dence, to which branch he is specially
assigned, and in which he,.finds his
hands more than tull.
An atmosphere OF funeral soleml,litv
| prevades the chamber at all times,
yet the dignity OF this. the highest iu-
dlclal tribunal IN Christendom. is not
| so severe SIS has been charged. or,as
| might be imagined. There was a great
deal OF formal ceremony in the. court
some years. ago, mostly coming down,
from the English courts, but, it has,
gradually disappeared until there IS.
now very little left. The early ius-
| tices were treated with high respect.
not unmingssd with a certain desres,
ofawe, and members ofthe bar seldom
attempted to be familiar with them,
either on Or off the bench, unless the,
were in intimate social relations. Ii
IS related Of Henry Clay, who was
noted for suavity, that he stopped
one day in his argument before the
court and advancing to the bench il a
! graceful manner, took a punch OF snuff
from the box of 8 Justice, saying: Il
perceive thet your honor sticks to-
the Scotch" and then resumed his
speech. This.excited comment at that
time, and Justice Story said: 81 do
not believe there is q man in the United
States who anld have done that but
Mr. Clay.
Lawyers were at one time expected
to appear IL full dress suits OF black,
With ruttled shirts, knee breeches, silk
stockings and low shoes, with silver
buckles, but now the customis to wear
plaEn black froek suits In the first,
part OF the: century the justices were
wigs. The black silk robes worn by
the justices are nearly like those worn
by the clengYmen OF the Episcopal
church- Before entering the court
chamber these gowns are donned in
| the robing room with the aid of color
ed attendants.
At high noon Of each day during the
court term, which extends from Octo-
Der to Jane, the erier requests all per-
SONS, IN the chamber to rise and then
IA stentorlan voice announces: 1.-The
honorable, the chief justice and the as
sociate justices Of the United States
! Preceded by the marshal, the process
| SION Cd Judges enter the room, headed
by tie chief Justice, the other .iudges
following according to seniority in
service. Standing Tor an instant at
their respective chairs they exchange
salutations with the bar and take
seats, the chief justice occupying his
in, advance of the rest. The crier then
opens court with the usual "Oyes! O
yes! 0 yest' and business proceeds
mach the same as in .cOurts,of final
resort IN the several states.
The first chief Justice was john JAW,
OF New York, who served from 1850
to- 1895, and following, in the order
named, were John Rutledge, Of South
Carolina; Oliver Ellsworth, OF Con-
necticut; John Marshall of Vir-
rgininia; Roger B. fancy, Salmon p
Chase, and the present Incumbent
Marshall served 81 years end fancy
2S years. The former has been called
''the great chief justice" because Of his
eminent qualifications H4was very
peculiar man in his PERSONAL character
lstics, and noted for his plain, if not
shabby, style of dress Like Vice
Pres. Hamlin, he never wore an over
coat, even in the coolest weather. The
official etiquette OF Washington re-
quires that the members Of the SUI
preme court shall pay an official visit
| to the President on the day of OPEN
ing the annual term Of court and, on
New Years day.
The court room OF the Supreme
court is. the old Senate chamber, a
part OF, the capitol hnilding first erect
ed. The room is semi-circuar in, form
and OF Grecian design Outside the
area occupied for the use ofattorneys,
are q few rows OF seats cushioned in
red velvet for the use of spectators, OF
which there are never very many ex-
cept on occasions when some 9nf>aent
lawyer is to make an argument. The
| speeches before this court, however,
are not of the popular sort. Lawyers
address the court III quiet conversa-
tional tone, citing the facts and the.
authorities.
The mannarzsms and pyrotechnics
| which are successful before 2 Jury have.
no effect here. Every Saturday dur
ing the term the Chief Justice parcels
out to his associates thu cases that
have been submitted during the week,
assigning to each the case upon which,
he is best qualified to pass an opinion.
The opinions when written are read.
and discussed before the full bench be-
fore beir@ promulgated, and often
there is one or more dissenting justice.
All cases brought here must involve
an amcant in controversy exceeding
| $4,000.