New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-09
PRESIDING JUSTICE Van BRUNT.

The presentation TO the Appellate Division OF
the Supreme Court in this city yesterday of the
portrait of Presiding Justice Charles II. Van
Brunt was graceful and fitting recognition by
lenders Of the NpW-YOrk bar Of a wel-earned
judicial reputation II revealed the personal
regard felt for him by the members Of the
bar and his fcllow-judGes, and demonstrated the
respect and admiration entertained for him as
Judge by jurlsts of The highest standing and
reputation.
Judge Van Brunt is q unique parsonage III
this community. Although he has been sitting
continuously GA the bench of the higher courts
of New-Yorll for more years than some Of the
Younger lawyers have lived who were In his
court Yesterday he has barely passed the three
score-yCar mark. He has probably heard more
appcals argued than any other Of our living
judges: but he is to-day a closer student OF the
law than ever At the bar he had the reputa-
ton Of being hard aggressive. indom-
table intrepid. As judge these qualities nave
manifested themselves in fearless courage III
following his positive convictions. lie has per-
formed many unpopular judicial acts; but no
one has doubted his sincerity Of purpose Be
fore he became a judge he had shown strong
and active interest in politics; as Presiding
Justice his judgments have quite as frequently
and quite as severely defeated the claims of his
former Dolitical associates as Of their adverse
ries. He has been as ruggedly homes: as he has
been blunt.
Presiding Justice Van Brunt's term Of office
expires with the present year But TINS COM
nunty cannot afford to lose his judicial SER
vices until he has rounded out the seventy
wears Of judicial age He is now in the fulness
Of his powers. lie was Presiding justice OF
the old General Term before the creation OF
the Appellate Division by the new Consttn-
ton He and his associates Of that tribunal
have. in accordance with the authority gwen
them by that Constitution, organized the courts
of this city under a system that Is more "a
tional. more efficient and which has resulted III
the more expeditions and satisfactory DISPOSE
zion of the work of our courts than would nave
been possible under the old methods. mat sys-
tenn however, is yet in the experimental stage.
II will still need for years the directing mana OF
The iudcps who organized It, For the Appellate
Division itself TO lose It's presiding officer Woulu
necdlcSSly weaken that court ana render II al
fcult if not impossible to continue the splendid
record il has made as an appeal court since
January of last wear The reelection of PreSid-
ing Justice Van Erunt is not matter Of poll
ties. He is not Republican judge he Is not
Democratic Judge, whatever his politics may be
off the bench. His election will have no bearing
on the political contest in the Greater New-l orK'
since the voters Of the present city only VIII
have a voice in the selection of our supreme
Court Justices In similar circumstances ana
for like reasons The Tribune recommended the
denomination and reelection Of the late Judge
Brady and of Judge Barrett by the united ac-
ton Of all parties and nominating conventions
The result amply vindlcated the wisdom OF such
action. If the same course were followed III 'he
case of Judge Van Brunt the cause or justice
would be best served and the public would De
n great gamer. For every consideration IRE
siding Justice Van Brunt should be reelected
without opposition.