The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-30
THE SUPERIOR COURT
Judge LichteRberg Preparing
for q Busy Period.
THE LARGE CRIMINAL DOCKET
csurt Canmfssisners BADLY Needed to
Keep Civil BusfBsss From
FaIIfng Inso Arreare

The next Judicial term OF the superior
court. which corunenees January 8, ias0,
viii Be busy one for Judge Lschasnperg
and the court officials
The criminal calendar for the period WIZ
the exception Of The eases set sor Toe hrss
two weeks. whsch was Published IN the
Poer-IsTELaIsKscKn yesterday, VII pe
given So announced and tie pian
OF the court IL 10 announee the pending
criminal and civil business. jury triais, and
eases 10 be tried BIZ Judge Lichtenburg .
week Ii advance OF the time for hearing
the causes at ISSUE
II Is too early vet to state definitely just
how much time viii be required for criTni-
nal business. II may take possibly four or
i've weeks, and viii depend much upon
the facility with which cases are dispoeed Of
Next Saturday or q week later the cal
endar viii be announced for the third
week OF criminal business At the end OF
the third week or the beginning Of the
fourth week, cases viii be set for the week
following. shonld criminal business be
out OF the way by that time, the fiifh week
al court, or first week Of the ciYIl docket
will be nxed upon. One week VIII be con-
sumed Ia trying cases without jury un-
less IL Il found that only six weeks OF jury
tgiass are needed.
such 10 substantially the plan as out.
lined 10 a Posr-fxrELLIsEsrER reporter
yesterday by Judge Lichtsnbcrg for the
first period.
The business OF the superior court could
be greatly facilitated By the appointment
Of three court commissioners. but Judge
Lichtenberg, as has been previously
stated, refuses 10 designate any lawyer to
Gil the Office until the legislature fixes the
matter Of compensation. The appoint
ment Of court commissioners Is an
important matter. and the delay
Of the legislators in not acting
will result in q short time ia throwing the
superior court docket in arrears. The APP
pcintment OF three commissioners would
practically constitute four courts, aud
would make the superior court in one sense
. court Of appeals. Many cases would be
settled on the hearing by the commission
ers, but in the matter of APP
peais from their decisions, Judge LIchten-
berg's conclusions could be rapidly arrived
at, by reason OF having the entire testi-
mony before him, and not being compelled
% take the time usually spent in hearing q
case. By this means the docket would be
kept reasonably clear. should the APP
pointment of commissioners take place be-
fore long. there is now probably enough
business on hand TO keep them almost con-
stantly employed for the next year. Such
appointments would be mainly honorary,
as the compensation fixed BY the legisla-
ture scnld, In any event, be insufficient
from . mere financial standpoint, 70 the
ability required 70 discharge the duties OF
office.
II Ii understood that the gentlemen who
are TO ill the positions have been practi-
eaiiy decided upon and then names viii be
announced soon after legislative action re-
garding compensation. whenever that aus
piciouH moment arrives.