Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-21
NEW JUDGES IN VIRGINIA.
Five Members of the Supreme Cour,
of Appeals to Be Chosen.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star

of Appeals to Be Chosen.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
RICHMOND, Va, Dec. 21-The five
judges of the supreme court of appeals
and the eighteen circuit judges will be
chosen by the Legislature Immediately after
the Christmas holidays. Intense interest is
manifested in the election Of the supreme
court judges, whose terms Of office are for
twelve years.
The present members of the supreme
court bench are republicans. at least they
were elected by the legislature which was
controlled by the Mahone-readjuster ele-
ment and which elected Riddleberger and
Malone United States Senators. OF course
none of these are candidates for reelection,
although some of them, 1t is said, have
voted the democratic ticket for the past
two years at both national and state elec-
lions.
The candidates for this bench are very
aspiring to the honors
The Star correspondent, after diligent
inquiry. learns that there are three candi-
dates who have been practically agreed
upon for three of the five seats. These
are Speaker r. H. Cardwell of the house
of representatives, Circuit Judge James
Keith of FauQuier, and Maj. John w. RELY
of Halifax county.
Mr.. Cardwell, who Is certain to fill one
Of the seats, has been speaker Of the house
for the past decade, and has frequently
been mentioned for a seat in Congress,
but would never oppose Capt. Geo. d. Wise
for the democratic nomination. He is one
of the leaders of the machine politicians
and while he is not regarded able
lawyer, he Is very popular with the men,
nj fhG cla av,1 fv,<lS
now are that he will receive almost the
unanimous vote of the caucus.
Maj. Rely is backed by the southside,
which element placed Gov. Mckinney in
the executive chairs is a lawyer Of great
ability. He Is now commemorative attor-
ney Of Halifax, and was one of the men
selected by the legislature four years ago
to revise the last CODE Maj. Rely is one
or the men agreed upon by the democrats
twelve years ago for a seat on the supreme
bench, when the readjusters captured the
legislature.
Judge Keith, the other of the three
slated" men, is well known to Washing
tonians. His name was seriously considered
by President Cleveland as the late Judge
Bonds successor, and he has been promi-
nently spoken of in connection with sew
eral high judicial Offices. He presides over
the eleventh judicial circuit. is emf
nent jurist, and man of spotless char
acter.
According to the established custom of
the distribution Of judicial honors, the
southwest will be entitled to one of these
seats. There are, however, so many candi-
| dates from this section that 1t is impos-
sible to forecast the action of the demo-
cratic caucus in this particular. Ex-Con-
gresham John A. Buchanan, 1t is said,
stands the best show of being the south
VESTS choice, though he is being closely
pressed by Judge w. II. Rhea and J. Ii.
Phlegar of Washington county. Judge
VIM. Mclaughlin of Rockbridge has also
strong following for a seat on the SUI
preme bench. Several of his friends have
been in the city for some time past in his
interest The claims of Mr.. George M.
Harrison of the great county of Augusta
are being ably pressed by Messrs. Marshall
Hanger. George NJ. Cochran and John N.
Opie of Staunton, DR.. H. r. Pollard OF
this city, formerly of King and Queen
| county, is making an active fight for one
of the seats, and is backed by the tide
water section. Judge w. H. Mann OF
Nottoway, who took more active part
| in the last canvass than any of the cam
didates for the supreme court bench, has
developed quite a following. The success
Of Maj. Rely, however, would preclude the
possibility of Judge Mann's election on
geographical grounds.
Judge X. T. Barton Of Winchester is also
prominently spoken of in this connection,
but has as yet developed no perceptible
strength. Judge Heath of Norfolk is one
of the latest additions to the already long
list of aspirants, and the city by the sea
is presenting a solid front in behalf OF
its fayorite son,