The Greenville times., 1894-09-15
SAM JONES' LETTER.
The Great Preacher Writes on the
Qualities of the Model Judge.
Having a sound judicial Mind and Under
standing Thoroughly the Principles OF
Law, lie Must BE a Man of Deepest
Integrity and Judgment.
fcoPrRIGHr. ls94I

more 10 be desired, and none Of more
inealeulable value than that OF the
model Judge. Judges, like poets are
born TO their task. There are some
qualities which must enter into MS
character that others might get along
without The first characteristic OF a
model Judge is the fact that he is a
model lawyer, and not only knows the
law as practitioner in the courts, but
who understands thoroughly the great
principles Of law.
We have what we call case lawyers,
and frequently they get TO be judges
This is perhaps unfortunate, not only
for him, but the people to whom he
ministers his calling. The case lawyer
gets much from absorption and is
superficial in the very nature OF the
case, but he who understands the great
principles Of law has the first element
of the model judge.
The next element In his character
his power Of discernment is well de-
veloped. Justice Is a word that rests
upon his mind and conscience by day
and by night. The scales evenly bal
anced are but the emblem of his life
work. With wise discernment he not
only has deep insight into all ques-
tions brought before him, but he sees
all sides Of the question, all parts OF
the case and understands its relation
towards the other. In other words,
he gathers up the whole matter before
him, analyzes, separates and then puts
every part together again in right re-
lation and in perfect harmony.
Another element in model judge is
absolute freedom from prejudice.
Prejudice can have no place in the
mind and heart of a model judge. The
very word itself, prejudice, is offensive
10 him. Like the balances, they are
free and devoid Of everything except
the substance weighed therein. He,
with mind without thought and a
purpose, puts both sides of the ques-
tion into the scales and weighs them
according to their weight. Thus left
free, It is as natural for him to plum
the line as II Is for the sun to shine by
the day or the moon by night With
out favor to any, with prejudice
against no one, he sits and judges of
all matters presen ted to him.
The model Judge has a large measure
of executive ability. The machinery
of our courts to run smoothly and eff
fectively and with despatch requires u
man with large administrative abil-
ity; the lawyer, the jury, and the sher-
iff, in fact all attaches Of his court
move at his bidding with the regular
ity and quiet Of the old familiar clock
at home.
The model Judge shows the force Of
his character no where else more
clearly than in the management of the
lawyers who practice at his bar. The
lawyers respect such Judge; not only
that, but they admire him. Billin-
gates, vituberation, fuss and feathers,
they have found out won't go with a
judge like this, and all parties con-
nected with the court understand that
they must plum the line or hit the grit.
With the machinery in good running
order in his courtroom everything runs
smoothly and business Is turned off
rapidly.
Again, the model judge is unpur-
chasable and unbulldozable. lie can
not be approached by threats, he
cannot be intimidated by fuss. With a
clear discernment of his duty he dis.
charges 1t.
The model judge is not sympa.
thetic man. Sympathy and mercy are
but twin brothers. Justice and judg.
ment are twin brothers. II Is said
that justice ought to be tempered with
mercy, but generally the Judge tenn
pers mercy with little justice.
The judge who only sees the Grim
inals wife and children and hears their
pleadings and that Of the criminal
himself, is not fit to sit on any bench,
but the model judge looks at the crime
committed-a crime against God, a
crime against law crimo against 80.
ciety-and knows that the protection
of society and the maintenance of law
and order depends upon the punish.
ment of the criminals and a promp,
administration Of the law.
As in all other professions the model
judge is model man. A red-nosed
judge Is disgrace TO any bench.
man who drinks whisky Is not fit tc
preside over any court. An old swill
tub as a judge, an old beer soaker
melting out justice, is traversity or
the whole business. A gambler and q
libertine is not ct to preside over any
court He who violates the law should
suffer the penalty of wearing the
stripes in prison rather than soiling the
ermine and disgracing the calling of q
| judge. Pure and clean and upright in
his own character and with his owr
personal life rebulxe TO all offender,
lin this he is model Judge.
Amodel judge is man Of broad In,
formation. He has read and thought
on all lines, he is also much travelled
man, man who is in touch with hu
manity, who sees life as 1t Is In all Il,
practical developments, Is fit man te
deal with and rule over men.
Again, model judge is very cour
teous man; a surly, vindictive, ambi
tious man is not ct to be called Judge
but with patience and courtesy hs
gives every man chance. Every law
yer has as wide range as decency and