Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-04-20
First Judicial Circuit.
The Judges Who Have Occupied
the Bench Since 1891, and
Other IutereStin. Items.

The Judges w no Have occupied
the Bench Since 1891, and
Other Interesting Items.
Mr.. James S. Shepherd has just
completed a list of the Judiciary of the
First Judicial Circuit from 1891 up To
the present time, period of l0i years.
Many of the names, through their
descendants, are still familiar in this
section of the State. Through the
kindness of Mr.. Shepherd we publish
the list, believing it will be Of interest
TO many persons in this judicial circuit.
1891. Chief Justice-,John Done,
Esq. Associates Robert Harrison and
Moses Lecompte.
1899. Chief .Justice-Wm. Whit
tington Associates = Moses eCompte
and Robert Dennis.
1902 Chief Justice William Polk.
Associates-Robert Dennis and John
Craig.
1906. Chief Justice William Polk.
Associates John Done and James b.
Robbins.
1915. 'hiet Justice-William b.
Martin. \ observation-disclosures II Rob-
bins and William Wilmington.
1927. Chief Justice William b.
Martin. As>ociates-Ara Spence and
William Jingle.
1886. Chief Justice-Ara Spence.
Associates William Jingle and b. j.
Goldsborough.
1851. Chief Judge-Ara Spence
1881. Chief Judge-Jas A. Stew
art.
1856. Chief Thomas A.
Spence.
1867. Chief Judge-Jas. A. Stew
art Associates john X. Franklin and
Levin 7. II. Irving
1873. Chief Judge-Levin +. III.
Irving Associates Ephraim X. Viii
son and c. F. Goldsborough.
1884. Chief Judge Levin T. II.
Irving. Associates C. +. Goldsbor.
ough and Charles f. Holland.
1892. Chief Judge-Henry Page.
Associates Charles +. Holland and
Henry Lloyd.
Prior to 1871 the Courts in the sew
eral counties were presided over by the
States Justices, who, from the histories
of the several gentlemen, were APP
pointed to the positions by reason OF
their fitness and ability to sit as Judges,
but we're not, the writer infers, recog-
nlIeu rs lawyers.
After 1891 the Chief Justice was
lawyer by profession and was assisted
in the County Courts by two IF the
States Justices.
In 1906, and thereafter, the Bench
was composed Of LAWYERS
In 1851, under the Constitution.
change was made, in that the Bench
was reduced from three to one Judge
and made an elective office by the
people.
In 1867 another change was made
in the Constitution. the Bench being
composed of three and the feature of
being elective, rs under the former
Constitution. retained.
Prior to 1881, this, the First Judicial
District, was the Fourth.
Every change or vacancy ON the
Bench since 1867 has been by reason
of death, except in that of Judge
Ephraim X Wilson who resigned to
take his seat as United States Senator.
From the Minutes OF Court" in the
office Of the Clerk of the Circuit Court
for Dorchester County, and which were
most accurately kept, it appears that
during the period prior to 1891, which
embraces the Provincial County Courts,
the States Justices, (Which at this time
are known as Justices of the Peace,
presided at the Courts held in the sew
eral counties and exercised the same
jurisdiction as that of our present
Circuit Courts. There were at times
as many as sixteen Justices at session
OF Court. The records support the
theory that none of the Justices were
lawyers by profession. - Cambridge
Chronicle.