, 1892-11-21
WISE SUGGESTIONS.
Judge Robinson's Farewell Ad-
dress to the Bar.
He Expresses Thanks TO the Officers
of the Court, TO the Members of
the bar, and Retires with
Good Word for All.

of the Court, TO the Members of
the Bar, and Retires with a
Good Word for All.
There was goodly attendance of mem
bers Of the bar and friends of Judge
Robinson at the opening of the superior
court this morning. They listened with
eager attention to his eloquent and sug-
gestive address in formally introducing his
successor, as superior judge, the Hon. NJ.
J. Gordon.
After hearing number OF matters and
signing the orders necessary to close up the
business already heard before him, Judge
Robinson said:
/ have now come to one of the most
pleasant duties devolving upon me since
taking the oath of Office, name
ly that of administering the oath
and formally introducing to you
my successor The discharge of the du-
ties of the judge of the court is not sur
rounded by the most pleasant conditions
in this life. He lives largely amidst the
disputes and quarrels of his neighbors and
friends, and during the trial sits quietly be-
tween the cOntending forces, trying to see
that the one does not impose unjustly upon
the other, and were it not for the manly
and intellectual contests between members
Of the bar on behalf Of their clients, each
seeking honestly to enlighten and aid the
court, his life would indeed be burden.
The conduct of the bar has everything to
do with the peace, the pleasure and the use
fulness Of the Judge. Counsel should al
ways be broad enough to realize that the
decisions of the courts are made with a
view of reaching the right in the light of
the law, regardless of men or results. That
no matter how kindly the court
may feel toward the attorney, he
must lift himself above his surround
ings, turn aside from his likes and his dis
ikes, and decide every case upon its merits
after having received all the light he can
get. The lawyer who expects to win his
cases on accountOf the friendship existing
between himself and the trial Judge, hangs
his success and the interests of his clients
on a slender thread, and the man who is so
narrow as to question a judges motives
simply because Of an adverse decision
ought to be born again; he is not broad
enough for the legal profession. We must
be broader and more Just than this, if we
hope for success in our profession. My re.
lations with this bar and that Of the state
have been almost universally of the most
pleasant and confidential character, and so
far as these relations are concerned the in
cidents of that peri ID in which have been
your judge will ever return among the
pleasant memories of the past. You have
made me feel very near you, and for all
your acts of kindness and courtesy / am
truly and sincerely grateful. 7 step from
the bench to the floor with extreme pleas
ure and without single regret. 1 came
here from active practice and return to the |
work / so much love with the eagerness Of |
the child to It's playhouse. l am fully aware
that took office within the sound of very
many gloomy and not wholly complement |
ary prophesies, but l am indeed happy in |
the thought at this hour that I have been
enabled, with the help of this bar, to so
discharge my duties as that nOt-a single |
one of the distinguished prophets can saw
II told you So" and tell the truth. have |
no apologies to offer for my resignation at |
this time. l did not feel my duty to the |
public or to the bar required that / should |
continuein Office to the end of my term.
In the discharge of my duties | have
always endeavored TO measure outs as much |
justice as possible, whether there was any
law in it or not, and | have tried in every
way possible to avoid what is known as |
technical law As to how well ! have
guessed as to the law it is not for me to |
say, but if 1 haYe been enabled to guess
even reasonably we'll, it has been largely |
by reason of the help of the bar, and what |
eVer.ereditis due / share equally with vou |
In Separating from the bar officially, |
wish to say that / entertain for You the |
highest good will and the most kindly feel
lngs possible Our executive has wisely |
CuOhbu lIelu dulOuB you my successor, ana /
l feel confident that his selection If left to |
this bar. would have been your choice, and
need not say to you that he would have
been mine.
Mr.. Gordon is thorough lawyer; he is a
broad minded man; we all have every con-
hdcnce in him. Speaking on behalf of the
Judge of this court / may say that Mr.
Gordon has always been fair, honest, and
open and he has never been, under any
circumstances, discourteous or unprofes-
siOnal, and no one has practiced before me
in whom / had more implicit confidence in
his fairness and in his ability than in Mr..
Gordon, and it is with peculiar pride that
welcome him to this bench. The situa-
ton of the judge and the officers of this
court has very greatly changed. We are
no longer crowded into inadequate build |
ings, but we are surrounded and within,
what is perhaps one among the very best |
court houses in the state; certainly there |
is none more handsome. The board of |
commissioners has placed herein frst-class |
and modern furniture. Our surroundings |
ought to knock off some of the rough |
edges with reference to the thought |
less conduct of the bar. 1t is
well enough for the bar to require |
proper dignity of the judge upon the |
bench but we ought not to forget that
there is certain dignity and culture re-
quired of the bar as well, and trust, gem
tlemen, that we may seek faithfully to
enlarge the professional culture on the
part of the individual members Ofthis bar;
/ hope to see fewer feet hanging over
furniture, and less saliva outside
of the cuspidOres; in short, let us
try to lift ourselves as members of
this bar, up to that standard which our
surroundings would suggest.
Before leaving the bench l wish to ex-
tend my personal thanks to the clerk, Mr..
Roberts and his excellent deputies Sheriff
Prince, his deputies and the baliffs are
each entitled and receive my personal
thanks and well wishes.
1 am exceedingly regretful that illness
prevents Judge GOrdCn fro n being present,
but the oath of Office will be administered
to him this afternoon.
Judge Robinson then retired from the
bench and about 2 D. m. the new Judge took
the oath at his home and as soon as he
is able he will assume the duties Of the
Office.
THE GOVERNORS REPLY.
Judge Robinson this afternoon received
the following cordial letter from Governor
K. P. Ferry in answer to his letter Of res
ignation:
State of Washington, Executive Dep't.l
Olympia, November 10, 1892.
Hon. Joseph W. Robinson, Olympia,
Washington;
Dear Sir-Your resignation as superior
/ Judge of the state of Washington for
Thurston county has been received, and
has this day been accepted.
Your judicial duties have been ably and
| faithfully performed, and your retirement
from the bench will, feel assured, cause
regret to the bar and to the citizens of this
county. Yours Truly,
ELISHA p. FERRY.
WILL PRACTICE LAW.
In answer to numerous inquiries from
interested friends here and abroad, Judge
Olympia his home and again engage in the
practice of law.
The finest teas and coffees in Olympia