The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-02-08
ISSUED FRIDAY MORNING.
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 8. 1906
JUDICIAL pIsrRIcr DIVISION

JSOASA0A LAC kNAS4 0AVAoA0N.
Iu the iuatter Of the division Ut tni,
judicial district, BY. which Grane
Forks aud Nelson cuuatiessare u bs
mne district and PeMbina Walsh and
Cavalier the other, and for which Re
preventative Blackjack has introduc.
ed u dill, We have interviewed u large
humber Of the bsr attending ut this
term Of court. We find that In most
cases the sentiment Is not particular.
! ly decided either for Or against, but
while few were Outspoken In favor
of the change there were nOne who
were positively against IL.
AMong the advantages ::of division
as stated In discussions Of the question
In our interviews, were these. At
present, Judge Templeton's district
contains nearly one third of the popu.
latiOn 1T the state and there are six
judicial districts. So 1t Is evident that
either our people have less litigation
or else the other districts have not u
fair share. But the other districts
claim that they are us large as they
ought to be. hence to reduce the work
here, division is the only remedy.
Again in the event Of division. terms
of court would be regular, certain,
and the work would he completed.
Now, In many cases both civil and
criminal, the length of time elapsing
before trial, causes the disappearance
Of witnesses, or witnesses have for
gotten many things which they would
have known when memory was fresh.
Then, in criminal rases. the detention
II accused persons aud witnesses ut
county expense, is Il heavy burden to
the county, US weltas an injustice to-
the detained parties, who IL innocent
are victims, and are entitled to
speedy trial, and il guilty, should be
punished forthwith and not allowed
the chance Of esca pc by delay.
AS To cost Of an increased number
districts. the judges are paid by the
state and the cost should bear equally
on the whole state. At present under
this deal we are paying probably- for
two judges and receiving the services
Of only one.
On the other hand there is no cues.
ti"n. that Increased terms of court
will cost more, because it Is probably
true that the more COURTS the more
litigation. Asa question: Gf finance
alone, 1t ii quite probable that the or.
binary term Of court costs u,ure than
the total sums In litigation. And it
Is rare that even The wilmer uf a law
suit does not lose noncy by the trans.
action. Hence, IT. is hardly fair to
figure c"urts down toa purely tinan.
cial question. Law, its expense and
trouble are penalties paid for civilized
government. In barbarislu, might
governs; In civilization. courts are
supposed to take the place Of strength
and to them Is the appeal for rights.
Just beyong the question Of a divi.
sion is that Of the appolntee.fo Judge
1t being understood that Mr.. Sauter
Ut Grafton is to BE- the man. II we
we're to guess from the intimations OF
the persons interviewed, such app,int-
ment Is not just what they desire, but
IT ttwere member Of the Pembina
county bur Or It were made IN cleo.
tive position ut once, they would near
iy.all be strongly in favor Of division
Oh the whole we think that the
Penbina county bar are Of the opin-
Ion that division is needed, and at
least soon. II not now, that the yearly
Of business will make It a necessity.