The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1889-10-26
BKFECrNE JUDICIAL sYsrEA.

DEFECTIVE JUDICIAL sTSTEA.
The re-appointment OF the Judges,
requiring additional work without
increase of compensation
does not, of itself, evince high degree
of morality, but this is not the worst
feature of the system which operates
in delay Of justice.
In many counties the term of circuit |
court Is limited to six days, the first Of
wich is taken up with the preliminary |
work of organization-a time wholly |
insufficient for deliberate transaction |
of the accumulated business of six |
months. As a necessary result civil
suits are continued to the serious in |
Jury of litigants, and criminal cases 60
over, either causing wrong to the inno-
cent or facilitating the ultimate escape
Of the guilty.
The plea for this outrage on COM
mon sense Is that it saves the peoples
money, as II the people were intent ON
getting the cheapest instead Of the best
administration of justice. With no
great increase Of absurdity, such reas-
oning would justify the division ofthe
whole state into two circuits with one
term year in each county, and the
letting out of judicial work to the low
est responsible bidder.-Common-
wealth.
The Judicial Districts of this State,
laid out aud established by the last
Legislature, are singing commentary
upon the evils of crude aud hasty leg
islation hustle the judges around In
their respective districts, without leas-
ure to read, or without time to duly
consider. Scattering their salaries
among hotels and railroads and lsav-
ing the jails full of criminals at the ad-
journment of court, for lack of sufii-
cient time to dispatch their business.
This Is very poor economy. In fact
ECONOMY" in this connection, is q
gross misnomer. The old adage, "Pen-
nywise and pound foolish" Is constant
ly finding new verifcation.
The New Mississippian does not
plead for an increase of their salaries,
but does unhesitatingly say that they
should not be so overtaxed with work,
as to render its prompt dispatch i'm
possible, or be forced to dispose of 1t
in hasty and unsatisfactory manner
They should not only have sufficient
time to do their work thoroughly aud
completely, bnt should also have some
leisure time for study and recreation
New Mississippian.
The TIMES recently said that Missis'
sippi had two boasts of questionable
merit: the cheapest judicial and thu
most expensive common school system
In the South. The Commonwealth
and the New Mississippian yer.
properly condemn the mcagre ant
niggardly policy of court administra
!, ton, IN which there Is certainly
urgent demand for different form
of change from that institution by thu
last Legislature. In illustration ofthi
we do not have TO go away from home
At the last term of the Washing
, ton Circuit Court that occurred
, which should be impossible. Cour
. convened and the Judge was con
fronted with a most urgent deman'
for the trial of the Whltworth chang
! Of venue cases. He had to select be
tween these and the local business
! consisting of full civil docket and
crowded Jail. He chose the forme
!. and Washington county practically los
term of court. The grand jury an
other expenses were a tax Of over hal
: the usual court costs however. Th
! criminals escaped or are denied tris
t and the ordinary right Of the citizen
q to legal process in civil suits Is delayc
D. aud lost. All of this unsettles sent
!. ment aud diminishes the respect fc
Is law. The next term will be owe
l. crowded. There will be more tina
the usual clash between the civil bus
y ness IN which the members Of the bI
d and litigants are interested, and Il
70 criminal docket, of chief concern
y the public.
y : It should be provided in our judici
code that no court should adjour
without disposing OF all civil busineI
ready for adjudication, and the tri
Of oil criminal cases. The court shou
m follow up closely the grand juris
u The custom is for the trial OF indie
,o ments at the succeeding term. whit
&c Of course results in the escape or ey
Of sion of trial of large proportion
Is the number. If Judge is sick
"a "a overworked, mandatory provisis
he should be made for the assig
IS ment Of one from another distric
n and the court schedules shou
- = not be so crowded but that such emo
h gencies could be surely guarded again
H. Those who take pride in our che
IL judicial system, in the recent enlare
nv ny ment of the districts, might chan
IN IL their views If they could be shown I
ed cost in money and the contribution
nd social demoralization of such lal
ICE as that quoted.
sa W. We believe separation Of civil a
he criminal terms would be polite a
wise. The standard of capacity q
In qualification of justices of the peace, a
ro- juries to less extent, aud the soc
lille condition in this district, certainly
Iss mand greater promptitude and pun
uallty in criminal trials. II would,
seems to us without such Investigate
-. as would warrant assertion, be mt
me consistent aud effective to combine
ate civil circuit with the chancery cas-
the and provide separate criminal coul
ms We would lie Qlad to hear from me