The record-union., 1895-02-16

. VI curing the attendance of a jury upon
me court to save the entire expense of
maintaining third Judge
our Judges are worked harder in this
county than in any other portion of Cali
1ol MA, Our courts are held from 10
cIock until IL O'Clock in the morning,
ana from 1:30 until o. clock P. NJ. This
uoes not occur in any other of the larger
cities OF the State. In San Francisco the
judicial hours are from 10 to u o'clock in
the morning and from until o. clock in
Ghe afternoon. In addition to that the
JUDGES In San francisco are given from
SIX weeks to two months vacation every
year, While our Judges have never to ex-
ceed one month. Our Judges are worked
from y O'Clock In the morning until 10 or
IL O'Clock every night, including holt
days. This is wrong. The third Judge
Dill should be passed."
ECONOMY IN a THIRD JUDGE.
Assistant District Attorney j. c. Jones:
Il think the system of temporary courts
proposed by the so-called Hatfield con-
stltutlonal amendment would be very
expensive and would lead to great loss
upon the part of litigants
Inc Constitution now provides that the
erectlon or destruction of a department of
superior Court can only be had upon a
eWo-tnlrds vote OF the mem ers OF the
Senate and Assembly. Surely power
which the Constitution has thus far so
strongly guarded should not by indi-
rectlon be placed in the hands of single
presiding Judge, who under the Hatfield
amendment, shall be authorized to es-
tabilsh one or more additional depart
ments of such Superior Court while it is
nowhere IN said proposed amendment
stated that the additional departments
being established the Judge shall have
power to abolish the same
On careful consideration of the So
called Hatfield amendment to the Con-
slltutlon, am fully of the belief that the
adoption of such a measure would not
| prove to be beneficial one upon the
standpoint either of money or Justice to
! lligants.
Il believe an additional Judge should
be permanently granted to any county
| Where the business absolutely demands
the same"
NEED OF CRIMINAL COURT.
u: II. Alexander, Court Commissioner
My opinion as to the necessity of a
thlTa Judge IN this county is that one is
padly needed. There are so many Grim
lnal cases arising here, caused probably
from our proximity to the State Prison,
| anu our county being on the line of over
| !ahu travel, necessltates a great many
jury trials,
jury trials are unavoidably slow and
tedious and the greater part of the time
by these cases. which, under the law, are
given precedence over civil matters; the
| consequence Is that the civil business is
constantly running behind.
AS TO the remedy proposed by Assem-
pIyhan Hatfield, l Will say that | think
1T lmpractlcaDle tor the reason that
JUDGES are constantly needed in their
! own counties Tor the issuance of writs of
injunction and similar writs, and by their
absence more damage might occur either
10 pubic or to private Interests than
WOULD suffice to pay the additional ex-
penSe incurred during the JUDGES en-
Tire term OF six years.
1t Is true that few of the counties have
more than one Judge, but in such coun-
Ties all the Judges are generally kept
pussy, and can only be absent through An
exchange with some other Judge to try
Inc lew cases IN which the court is dis
quained.''
lMPERATIVELY DEMANDED.
Isaac Joseph-"You ask is third
Judge needed in this county. Yes, l con-
slQer that one Is imperatively demanded
IN order that the litigation pending NAV
be disposed OF with dispatch, as under
present conditions criminal cases, like
| those Of the People VS.. Palmer, entirely
upset and throw into chaotic state the
civil causes, so that it is almost impossi-
bic to have them determined. Clients
/
and roundly abuse both Judges and law
yers, who are not in the least to blame.
Inc constitutional amendment pro-
posed by Mir. Hatfield Will not REMEDY
the evils, but Will make the matter more
complex and uncertain, for. while
Judge Is trying case, he may be needed
at nome TO issue writ of haDeas corpus
TO release from wrongful imprisonment
some worthy citizen.''
SHORT-SIGHTED ECONOMY Is RAN
WI hen requested to give mis- opinion J.
II. LiggetG said: I'm common with the
rest OF the legal profession in Sacramento
l am IN favor Of the third Judge PROPOSE
ton. The population OF this county is
! in my judgment, large enough to war.
! rant the creation of an additional Jud0e-
ship, for the crowded condition of the
calendar at times renders some form of
relief au urgent necessity.
II do not believe the adoption of the
constitutional amendment proposed nv
Mr.. Hatfield would meet the case. al
though L am inclined to think it MIGHT
obYlate IN measure some OF the disad-
vantages that obtain under the prevailing
conditions.
NC one having a knowledge of thu
facts would contend that our Judges are
to blame Tor the many vexatious DELAYS
and cOntlnuances to which those involved
in lawsuits are subjected. All concede
n 4oiLAAAui4J anu ldOOTlOuSlys
The FAULT lies in the system. We have
been trying to get along with an insult
| ticient Judicial force for the amount of
| legal business to be done.
II am strongly opposed to the creation
OF needless offices to increase the taxation
! burdens imposed upon a patient people,
| but shOrt-sighted economy ought not to
! be encouraged"
''OF COURSE"
Justice of the Peace w A Harrr uOF
| course [ am in favor of an additional
! judge for this cnnntUN