The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-04
GEoRGIA's HIGHEST COURT.
An Interesting Sketch of Judges Who
have Been On the Supreme Bench.

ATLANTA, March 3.-The change from
the old capitol to the new will be appre-
ciated by no department Of the state gov
ernment more than the judiciary. The
supreme court has had a rough time Of it
in the old building, where the voice of
! justice has been more or less drowned by
| the roar of noisy traffic rolling over the
Belgian blocks of Marietta street. The
| court room in the new capitol will be a
/ handsome chamber, beautiful in its design
and appointments. IL looks to the south
upon a pleasant residence street where there
Is little passing of vehicles, wing assurance
Of quiet surroundings so essential to the
| proper administration Of justice.
PORTRAITS OF JUSTICES.
| The walls of the old court room have
been bare of any adornment, save the
| musty echoes of eloquent speeches. Their
| honors, now on the bench, hope to see hang
on the new walls the portraits of some of
their distinguished predecessors. AS there
is no appropriation available which could
be applied to such purpose, nor likely to be
soon, reliance must be placed in a great
| measure upon the family pride and gener-
osity of those whose kinsmen have graced
the bench of this high tribunal. While not
presuming here to speak for the court, it is
safe to say that the tender of these por-
| traits would meet with prompt and CRATE
full acceptance.
THE ROLL OF HONOR
The supreme court Of Georgia has been
in life for nearly a half century. In look
ing back over its honorable history and its
| justices who have presided in it's temple
how many illustrious names meet the eyel
| Men of high character, of brilliant or of
simple learning, profound jurstS, serving
! the state for pittance, marking out with
clean hands and clear heads the bounds of
| her Jurisprudence for whom there is and
will always be honorable and loving
memory,
Legal precedent in Georgia dates from
the year 1843, when the supreme court was
organized. The first chief justice was
Joseph Henry Lumpkin of Athens, and
/ there sat with him as associate justices
| Hiram Warner of Greenville and Eugenius
A. Nesbit Of Macon. In 1858 Hon. Ebenezer
Starnes of Augusta came upon the bench
| in the place of Hiram Warner, who had
| resigned. In December of that year Justice
| Nesbit's term expired, and he was sue
| ceeded by Hon. Henry L. Benning of
| Columbus.
Justice Starnes was succeeded in 1855 by
| Hon. Charles j. Mcdonald of Marietta. In
| 1859 Justice Mcdonald resigned, and Hon.
| Linton Stephens Of Sparta filled the vacant
| place. The term Of Justice Benning ex-
| pired in 1860, aud he was followed by Hon
Richard F. Ly on, then of Albany, now of
Macon. In the same year Justice Stephens
was succeeded by thai noble Roman,
| Charles j. Jenkins of Augusta In 1866
| the term of Justice Lyon expired, and Hon.
| Dawson A. Walker of Dalton took his place.
In 1065-'66 Justice jenkins was promo ed to
the executive otiice, and Hon. Iversol L.
Harris of Milledgeville succeeded him on
the bench.
DEATH OF THE FIRST CHIEF JUSTICEl
On June 4, 1867 Chief Justice Lumpkin
died in the harness, after nearly a quarter
| of a century of continuous service. His
| honored name will always be inseparably
associated with Georgia Justice
Hiram Warner was again called to the
| bench, and this time as chief justice.
| BULLOCK APPOINTMENTS.
| When the state was honored with recon
| struction and given thetBnemorable consti-
tuition of 1868, the court was reorga lied and
| Gov. Bullock appointed to the bench Hon.
Joseph E. Brown of Atlanta chief Justice,
and for associate justices Hon. H. j. McCay
of Americus and Hiram Warner of Green
Vile Joseph E. Brown resigned in Decem-
Der, 1870 and Gov Bullock appointed Hon
Q. A. Lochrane of Atlanta to succeed him
as chief justice. Judge Lochrane resigned
the December following. Hiram Warner,
| then on the bench, was made chief Justice
and Hon. w. w. Montgomery of Augusta
was given the vacant place Feb. 8. 1872 He
was succeeded Feb H. 1873 by Hon. Robert
P. Trippe of Forsyth. In 1875 Justices
McCay and Trippe resigned to enter upon
the practice Of law t. Cgether,
and Hon. Logan E. Bleckley of
| Atlanta, and Hon. James Jackson of Ma
con, succeeded them. Justice Bleckley re-
| signed in 1880 and his place was filed by
Hon. Martin j. Crawford Of Columbus
Chief Justice Warner resigned also in that
| year and the promotion fell to Justice Jack
son. The vacancy created was filled by
the appointment Of Hon. Willis A. Hawk
ins, who only filed the short unexpired
term.
| ELECTED BY THE LEGISLATURE.
The constitution of 1877 provided for the
| election of judges of the supreme court by
| the legislature, and in 1880, James Jacksol
was elected chief justice, Martin j. Craw-
ford, then on che bench, and Hon. a. NJ.
| Speer Of Griffin associate justices. In No
| vember, 1892 Hon. Samuel Hall Of Macon
succeeded Justice Speer, whose term ex-
| pired. Justice Crawford died in Office IN
| 1888, and Hon. Mark Ii. Blanford Of Colum-
bus was elected 10 the vacancy.
On jan 13, 1887, Chief Justice jackson
died in Office, and Hon Logan f. Bleckley
of Atlanta was appointed TO till the vacancy,
| AID was su seq Iently elected by the legls-
| lature.
Justice Hall died in office in 1887 aud
| Hon. Thomas j. Simmons Of Macon was
elected TO I'LL the vacancy.
This reaches the bench as now consti-
| tutei. Chief Justice Bleckley's term viii
expire in 1898, Justice Blsndford's in 1891,
aud Justice Simmons in 1893.
Back OF the present court all Of these dis
tinguished Georgians have passed TO the
silent majority save fve-Lyon, Brown,
Montgomery, Trippe, Speer.
WHERE Is SAVANNAH
In looking over the long list Of supreme
| court justices, one is forcibly struck with
the absence from it during the entire period
of the history OF the court of any member
OF the Savannah bar, which has
always been noted for its ability
and brilliance. The city Of Macon
has furnished four Of the justices, Atlanta
four, Augusta three, Columbus three and
Americus two. Perhaps the next new
! justice to be called TO this bench will come
| from Savannah. At any rate, there is just
now a strong feeling in favor Of it all over
| the STATE.
ELECTION RAsCALITY.
Tho Cat1aa NJ the Rapub1fcan Majority