The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-06
THE COURT rs BUSY.
Many Lawyers Say That Four
Judges Are Needed.
OTHERS THINK THREE WILL DO.
Expressions From Bench and Bar Upon
the Proposed Additional Judgeship
Diversity OF Opinion.

before the legislature at olympia has brought
forth several aspirauts for the position. petit
ton for the selection OF Mr., John Wiley is being
circulated and very generally signed. Mr. John
Arthur is also urged for the place. There is,
however, considerable difference of opinion as
10 the necessity for an additional judge. The
following expressions gathered from bench and
bar speak fox themselves:
Maurice MeMickcn-The business OF the supe-
nor court seems to be pilng up, and il il evident
that the court is getting behind. Accordingly
lam in favor OF another judge, in order to keep
The calendar clear. The cost of his salary is
trife compared with the gain TO the whole
county from the speedy dispatch OF business
W. 4. Andrews-I don't think we need another
Judge.
Thomas B. Hardin-There is no doubt in my
mind that another judge Is needed. When we
had Judge Humes and Stratton in the criminal
snd civil business, Judge Lichtenberg in the
equity cases and Judge Osborn in the probate
court, each of them was kept busy all the time.
NOW we have Judge Humes for criminal cases.
/ Judge Osborn for civil, and judge Lichtenberg
for equity and probate cases. l think we are
asking Judge Lchtenberg to do too much; for
know he holds sessions at night, and if not ac-
fnaliy in court, he spends most of his evenings
GU the cases on which he must render decisions.
prsctce IS distinct, and will remain distinct. no
matter whether heard before the equity judge or
not
bate business going into the other department
three judges ought TO be able to handle the
business OF this county until the next iegisla-
ture meets. But the probate business is enough
for one man alone, and with the equity business
twill be too much for Judge Lichtenberg.
Joseph shippen-lt seems to me that the work
o: THE courts requires another judge. One OF
the great evils to the business community, here
O. elsewhere, lie the proverbial laws DELAY. It
works great injury in determining and enforc-
ing rights, aud forces many to abandon just
claims rather than submit to the uncertainty of
time This department Of government is essen
tally behind the times, for 1t is just slow as
hundred years ago. You could 60 to Liverpool
aud back in the time you have TO answer sum-
mons for payment of a promissory note, for
which three days ought 10 be abundant.
]. I. Ronald am in favor of it. think we
need another judge.
Judge Thomas J. Humes-I do not like to say
anything on the subject, but the dockets show
for themselves. The business is steadily in
creasing, and only a portion of the cases noted
for trial are being disposed OF, while new cases
are being added TO the list every day Some
times the courts are idle for short time, owing
timed over for various reasons, and
there Is no business that can be at
tended TO just then. Sometimes attorneys are not
ready in the cases, and unless other cases are
get for trial, there in nothing to do. The civil
department sets the cases which my department
tries in addition TO the criminal business, and
Il there are not SUFFICIENT cases set the business
Is sometimes finished so that court adjourns be-
fore clock, but as rule the judges have their
hands full, and the criminal business is con-
stantly increasing and consumes most OF the
Colonel J. c. Haines-I do not think we need
fourth judge just now. The judges we have
ere handling the business very we'll, and never
saw a court where business was transacted with
more dispatch. in better style than here. Liti-
gants cannot expect TO get cases to trial soon
O. suits are commenced. There are always some
delays that necessarily occur, for it takes time
10 get ready. But If we have to choose between
afourth judge and court commissioners, j am
decidedly in favor of a judge. II will cost less
and be better and more satisfactory arrange
nent.
W. B. Spencer, county clerk-The business Is
4 more than three judges can attend to. We need
II judge Tor the probate and divorce business
alone, so that the probate business could be
transacted promptly. The judges have long
sessions, frequent night sessions, and very little
time for recreation or rest. There arc now 100
cases noted for trial. and the business is growing
heavier every week and cases are accommodating
on the docket II the business of the court is to
4 De promptly attended TO, think another judge
/ Ia necessary.
W. T. scott-we certainly need another judge.
The business is falling behind and is increasing
/ ell the time. Ii sometimes takes three months
/ 10 get case heard that is noted for trial. The
/ number of new suits brought win average about
/ eight day. Last year ,06S cases were disposed
i OF by the three judges an average of about one
/ day for each judge. There are over 2,4o0 cases
on the docket, which with the new ones coming
N makes the business accumulate very rapidly.
The constitution of this state provides that the
process Of the superior court shall extend to all
I parts OF the state. This is just beginning
1 70 be generally known and its tendency is to
II
/ rule htigants can find better attorneys TO
select from. II is necessary now for the judges
Of the court to work very hard and yet they can
i not keep up with the increase of business.
John Z. Humphreys--f am in favor of more
/ judges and smaller clerks fees. The county is
getting too much money out of the costs in civil
j specuate in clerks fees. The judges should not
nave to hold night sessions. They have work
enough TO do during the day without being re-
4 qured TO sit on the bench at night, and besides
IN do lnNE nm.
/ authorities in eases under adyisement. The
/ way matters are now. lawyers have cases ready
ior trial and cannot get hearing for many
i weeks and these delays frequently work great
/ hardships to parties concerned
Judge Richard Osborn-lf matters are system
auzed the business of the court can be transacted
/ very easily by three judges Fully one-half of
me cases on the calendar will never
De tried and never noted for trial.
"a some the parties are dead or
1 Eled along in the docket. A number of the cases
ior trial are settled by agreement, and in others
1 judgment Is taken by default, that only a
i smali portion of the cases on the calendar will
4 ever consume much time in trial. IL the three
1 judges are on the bench from $50 o'clock in the
morning until noon, and from > O'Clock until 5
N the afternoon, the docket will soon be cleared
j ana the business transacted without the need of
/ Any more judges. Another judge would be big
aodltional expense TO the county, and altogether
I unnecessary al the present time.
Judge iIehtenDeTg declined In express an
i ef'nion on the subject, but admitted that he
nsa done considerable work at home, and is
1 vii giving much Of his time in the evenings to
1 Examining authorities on the rams horn right
4 Tsemcnt
| Thomas T. Iittell-rt is easy 20 see that NJ
| PRESENT too much work is being thrown on
/ Judge liehtenberg, who has both the equity and
1 stooate SnSness-perhaps no more work than
1 ne is willing to do, but more than he should be
sSed to do. We need q fourth man to do the
work
Z. W. Craven-The court is so far behind
nat We ought to have another judge in order to
Louis X. Church-rhere is no doubt that
mother judge would greatly facilitate the dis
patch OF business.
1 Fremont Cole-I know that number of
! Eases Tor which speedy trial is wanted are wait
| .ng on the docket. This delay in legal business
/ 9oss 10 LitigEnts. and fourth Judge should
appointed to save the time OF everybody con-
I. +. Bsine-At present Judge I4chten-
a@fr is working hard with both the equity and
i .he probate business. know that when he is
equity eases he Is interrupted for fvete or H.
wen minutes by men wishing 90 ask about points
81 ~ Probate practice or things OF that kind This
sasefruption is annoying 20 the judge aud TO the
assyeis who are trying eases before him. There
II s1ooid be one judge who could devote most of
as sa tine TO probate The equity furnishes
II seshua NJ. Niestling-There is business
j snesgh now Ior four judges; and l think that
II sste Tour now working at our superior court
0eslness, tue citizens OF King county would be
81 snofued better protection at property and per
81 0n-And they have the right 10 the compietest
II protection possible feel sure that the present
soncluoo OF the docket demands another man,
y Wy II may be that legal business will not be
eaiie so lively after while. one difficulty is
laat The pay offered judge is so small that few
sood lawyers are willing % give up a private
p,aetlee Tor hard work and comparatively little
W; Lair IHnl-At present there is more
n sVtA LOT TIE King county superior court than
.oar ledges-to say nothing of three-can DO
tLep are working hard day after day, and they