Middletown transcript., 1895-11-09
APARrIsAN JUDICIARY

AFAhIlSAN JOOlClAhls .
There was a time when the people Of
this State had every confidence in their
Judiciary, in their ability and imparti-
aiity. That time is past. The names
of Bates. Gilpin, Comegys, Houston,
Whiteley and Wales gave sense of Sc
curity to the people and added dignity
to the court. But death and the wheels
of time have removed all the Re-
publicans from the bench, and party
exigencies have controlled the appoint
ment of their successors, and in every
instance of recent years the appointee
has been a partisan. In few cases
the appointment has been satisfactory
to the whole people as in the naming
of Alfred P. Robinson as Chief Justice
but usually politician has been named
because of his service to his party, or
to his friend, the Governor. In 1893
by the retirement Of Chief Justice
Comegys and Judge Houston the DEM
ocrats had the opportunity to give the
minority party representative on the
Bench, to assure the people that the
Court was not partisan, but the oppor-
tunity was not embraced, and the feel
ing among Republicans, based on their
experience with the courts, is that
their political rights are reviewed by
judges whose partisanship enters into
every question. This should not be.
The people have right to expect that
in questions touching them civilly,
politically and personally they shall be
dealt with impartially, righteously and
with ability. 1t is the fault of the
Democratic party in its appointments
of our judiciary that the people do not
feel satisfied with the Courts as at
present constituted. And they see no
prospect of improvement.
Mr.. Wolcott resigns as Chancellor
this week to become the attorney for
the Pennsylvania railroad and Cover
nor Watson announces that he will
appoint as his successor John II. Mich
olson, at present Attorney General, to
take effect Nov. 10th. Mr.. Nicholson
is an affable gentleman, very agree
able but without special qualification
for this high Office. 1t is understood
that his practice and experience have
been very limited, but it is believed
that he will at least drop his PARTISAN
ship, thing the present Chancellor
has not done, for he was announced by
the Democratic papers as the partisan
attorney, nay the partisan backbone, to
Governor Watson in lhe m emOrable
senatorial contest during the closing
days of the General Assembly, Chan
cellor Wolcott gives UP the high judi
cial position he occupies to become the
paid attorney and lobbyist fol thePenn-
sylvania Railroad. In this he joins
Senator Gray and possibly Mr.. Bayard
who was their attorney during his sena
torial term, and The railroad never let's
go public man when it can retain
him. The reason the people have
never gotten any legislation in their
interests against the railroad is very
apparent. There are little Germans in
Delaware.
Roberto. White, Esq. of Georgetown,
is to succeed Mr.. Nicholson as Attor-
ney General. He was student under |
Chancellor Salisbury and among the
younger members of the Sussex bar
lands in the front rank in. liability. |
He began to practice in 1880. His
chief opponent for the position was
W. Fl. Boyce, ,lEsqr. Of Georgetown,
who lost .much ofhis popularity with
the Sussex bar at the time Of Judge |
Cullen's elevation to the bench because
Of alleged double dealing towards his
preceptor and partner, Alfred P. Rob-
inson, ESQ.,, who was then can
1idate for Associate Judge. The
congratulations to
Friend Bob White.