The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-18
MR.. JUSTICE LAMAR.
The Seat Awaiting Him a the South End of
the Bench.


the Bench
Special to st. Louis Globe Democrat.
The vacant seat which awaits Mr.. Lamar in
the Supreme Court room, is at the extreme
southern end of 1.-The bench" This s one Of
the peculiar customs of the highest judicial
body. When death creates a gap in the line,
the surviving justices. sitting below, move up
and fill it. The new member goes to one end or
the other of the line Justice Woods, whose
place Mr.. Lamar takes, sat to the left of the
center and some distance from it. There was
but one member of the court below him; he
moved up, and then the place for Mr.. Lamar
was left at the extreme southern end.
The justices great sticklers for this custom
of sitting according to priority They follow it
tation room, where nobody but the members
and officers of the court go, the justices always
sit at the long table in this order-the Chief
Justice in the center and the justices either
side, according to the length of service
The first thing Mr.. Lamar will do when he
gets his commission will be to have his measure
taken for silken robe by the court tailor This
robe is very much like those worn by Episcopal
clergymen. There isn't much trouble about the
! fit except that the garment mustn't be too long.
If it wasn't for thu matter of length the tailor
could keep Supreme Court robes in stock, but it
is evident that the robe which would do for big
justice like Mr.. Harlan would never do for
man of Mr.. Lamar's stature and so one must be
made to measure
If Mr. Lamar in his Observation-Disclosures should
attempt
mount the steps to the long platform on which
the court sits, he might catch his boot in the
folds and pitch headlong into full view of the
bar. But this isn't likely to happen. Each JUS
tice has his own peg in the robing room, and
these pegs are arranged precisely in The order
observed in the seats upon ''the bench"
The bench" is not bench 1t is a long row
of high backed chairs, upholstered in haircloth.
The top of the back is above the head of each
OCCUPANT. Two of the justices object to the
haircloth, and have cane-seat and Comeback
nhosn wxrhfA ali khA
ance of 1.-The bench" and the innovation is not
relished by the other justices. Mr.. Lamar is
not a man given to much consideration of what
he sits on. and he will probably accept the high
haircloth chair that stands awaiting him at the
extreme left OF the Chief justice.
There is quite little ceremony for the new
member to learn. A Missouri lawyer Just
after his first appearance in the Supreme
Court, came out into the hall saying, in a loud
whisper. to the Congressman who accompanied
him: sit beats the Episcopal Church all hollow
/ thought they would never get through with
the rigamarole"
At II precisely on the days of sitting the JUS
tices come marching in from side. They
halt IN a row back of the red haugings which
conceal them from the view of those in the
courtroom. The crier, a tall young man, with
bristling yellow hair large Eyeglasses, and a
short chin, stands up and says in a solemn
voice:
1.-THE Honorable the Cnief-justice and the
Associate Justices of tne Supreme Court of the
United States"
Every body initiates the crer in rising. Then
the justices step forward through the Turkey
red hangiugS and stand in long row facing the
courtroom. They wait moment and then bow.
Everybody bows.
Before the bowling is over the crier is at his
song
''Oyez! Oyezl Oyez All persons having
business with the Honorable the Supreme Court
of the United States admonished to draw
near and give attendance, as the court is
sitting"
The crier stops moment and then. lowering
his tone, says:
''God save the United States and this Honora-
BILE Court"
Everybody sits down. The little play is over
Business begins.