Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-24

EquaIife the Salaries Of the Circuit
Court Judges.
RICHMOND. VA. November 2l

RICHMOND. VA. November 2l. 1895.
10 the Editor Of the Dispatch
a great Injustice has been done the Cir
ult judges In this State by special legis-
alton with regard TO their salaries IN
he several circuits. The law at present
rovides that the Judge Of the Seventh
'lrcuit shall be paid $500: the Twelfth
circuit. $3.50; the Thirteenth Circuit.
4 1900. and the judges Of the o.her cir
uits each the sum OF 81 900: the Chancery
Court Of the city of Richmond. 1850
see section ls5. subdivision third Code OF
Virginia, lSSO. The salary Of the Judge
4 the Court Of Law and Equity Of the
ity Of Richmond Is 5000 tsee Ac =
1924. page 225) and the salary OF the
Judge of the Court Of Law and Chan
cry, OF Norfolk city, Is s20co (see Acts
lS93-'A. page 2is).
Al, of the city judges receive addi-
ional compensation from the respective
municipalities, so that no two judges are
aid alike.
Paying judges by the different cities
5 most pernicious system The judge
the representative OF the judicial power
4 the State and should be paid by the
/, ate. 1t is unjuet TO the cities to re-
ilire them TO pay the Circuit judges
lust as II is unjust to the counties 10
equlre or permit them 70 make add.
ional compensation 10 the county Judges
ppointed by the State. The salaries OF
II the judges are too small and no re.
action would be proper In any case
nut they should be equalIzed The act
3assed In 1870 making their pay 81, s0l
each case. may have been suitab 10
he conditions existing at that time, but
immense changes have taken place In
Virginia In the last quarter Of a cen
ury. The amount Of litigation Is far
yreater than formerly, and consequently
he judges have more to do There is nc
really good reason why one Circuit judgt
should be paid more than another
One Of the best Circuit Court Judges In
the State resigned this year because
The pay was SO small that he could not
ifford to hold the ONCE.
II is very true that some one can al
ways be found to take the vacant place
but that is no reason at all for supposini
that he Is the best man. and even II hs
Is. he should be we'll paid for his Service
Precdrious tenure an insufficient com
pensation, are not aids to independence
on the bench. the place where 1, Is mos
needed
No thoughtful man can suppose tina
such compensation as 1900 Is just am
right.
Inc Judge cannot pTactlce law, no.
can he engage In any other business
The whole policy is unwise.
The mode of appointment OF United
States judges. their tenure OF office. anf
the provision that their compensation
shall not be dmlnlshed during the
continuance In ONCE. thus emancipatin
them from tho control Of the Legislature
has excited the admiration OF all philoso
phical students OF our institutions.
However. Notwithstanding these safe
guards. II their pay was inadequate the
could not possibly be independent.
Why should our State judges be les
Independent when they try persons r.
their lives as well as enter DEGREES ar
orders disposing of individual and cor
porate property?
The policy Of the Commonwealth shoult
be radically changed with reference
the pay OF its Circuit Court judges. tn,
next General Assembly should equaliz
all Of their salaries by making them NO
less than $500 In each circuit.
Respectfully.
s. 8. p. PATTESON.