The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-08
PROPOSAL TO CHANGE TaE METHOD
OF JUDICIAL sELkCIION

A member Of the Bar Association Of
the city OF Baltimore submitted 10 1t
some time back a proposal that when
vacancy mas occurred. or IL about 10 Oc-
cur. in the judgeship Of any OF the courts
of Baltimore the ex-pres.dsnts OF the
Bar Association. acting as committee,
shall report 10 the association the names
of five lawyers. irrespective OF politics.
whom the committee might deem eminent
ly fitted for judicial position. If accepted
by the ssoc.ation, the list was 10 be
sent to the Governor Of the State. if the
vacancy was TO BIZ filed by appointment,
or. II the vacancy was in the United
States Court. to the President OF the
United States, or TO the political party
conventions, If the position was TO be
filed by election.
The Bar Association referred this 10
committee of five. consisting of Edward
Otis Hinckey william A. Fisher, Ber-
nard Carter. Richard NJ. Venable and
Louis Z. Hennighausen This committee
has submitted majority and minority
report
The majority report was signed by
Messrs. Hinckley, Nenable and Hennig-
hansen. 1t proposes that whenever
vacancy occurs, or is about to occur, IN
me judiciary of Maryland, FIVE persons
shall be appointed by the assOC.t ion 10
act as Judges of an election. to be held
by all the members Of the bar OF Balti-
more. each of Whom .s 10 vote for some
one person TO be candidate to fill SUCH
vacancy. The name of the person having
h.. Il. tn he
presented as suitable for nomination Tor
the office of judge.
The minority report was signed by
Messrs Carter and Fisher 1t stated that
they do not agree with the plan pro-
posed by the majority OF the comm ttee'
as they think II is inexpedient that the
members OF the Baltimore bar should
do anything which would wear the as
pect of the. assumption that they have a
private right to say who shall be selected
TO MI judicial positions. and because the
plan proposed by the majority altogether
ignores the political affiliations Of the
candidates. The minority saw 10 reason
why political convention should not
be at full liberty to select a man OF lis
party, properly qualified. for judicial posi-
ton and recommend his name 10 the
voters.
The subject was laid over for future
action.
We entirely agree with Messrs. Carter
and Fisher in their views We believe IN
the principle Of electing judges by the
direct vote OF the people, and while this
Is done We must expect that the opposing
political parties will make nominations
for the judgeships. Nor do We see any
thing objectionable in it. The security
against the nominations Of an unht man
lies in the fact that his record IS 10 be
ventilated on the stump before the people
and no man with black spot in That
record is going to accept the domination
or if he does ne VII be surely defeated
as happened with Judge Maynard in New
York.
Surprising that proper men are nomi-
mated, we see no reason why they
should not be put up by conventions. \
man may be in all respects qualified tor
the judicial office and still be an intense
party man. The judicial offices are far
objects then, for political ambition. ana
the nearer we get to free and fair cleo
lions by the people for all offices the
more perfect our Government becomes