Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-10-28
JUDGE JONES'S RECORD
Substantial Reasons Why the People
Should Reflect Judge Jones.

Why should the people of the Second
circuit vote for Judge Jones? Is he
one of the ablest judges we have had
In this state or one Of the weakest?
The record will show.
The little coterie OF disappoint I'D
lawyers and political tricksters which
IL managing the Wilkes campaign, has
repeatedly stated through its newspa-
per that Judge Jones's record before
the supreme court demonstrates his
ignorance of law, his lack of ability as
a Judge. While the people in gen
eral way know this statement to be
false. they are probably not aware how
far 1t is opposite to the truth. The
record will show.
The Argus-Leader has taken pains
to summarize the supreme court re-
ports of the past four years and to
compare Judge Jones's record for re-
versal with those of his predecessors
and contemporaries. We state without
qualification that he stands above
them all.
In the first place the volume Of bus
mess in the Second circuit is far
larger than in any other, will average
more than in any other two. 1t Is no
uncommon thing to find two hundred
cases on the calendar in 4 single term
or to find twelve hundred in = year. In
the four years Judge Jones has actual
ly tried more than one thousand cases.
In only eighty-seve did the attorneys
ind a possible basis for appeal. In
only twenty-six did they obtain re-
versals. Considering the vast mass OF
business, considering that some times
fifty cases were tried month, involv-
ing the most diverse rules Of law, 1t is
remarkable that the Judge should have
made only twenty-six errors. 1t dem
onstrates that he Is a ready, deeply
read, thoroughly posted lawyer Of
sound Judgment.
This fact will be brought out more
strikingly by a comparison. Judge
Aikens was regarded rs an able Judge
BY everyone. Yet, though Judge
Aikens had very many fewer cases
to try than Judge Jones. his re-
yersals were %. OF all the cases ap
pealed Judge Aikens had A affrmance'
and % reversals, or a percentage OF 50
Judge Jones had 81 affirmances and q
reyersals or 20 per cent. Owing to tht
LARGE accumulation of business Judge
Jones during his first two years wal
overwhelmed with work and his per
centa9e OF reversals was someWha
larger, but during the past two year,
when the business has been less ant
has consequently permitted a mor'
careful weighing of the legal points n
has had thirty-eight affirmances ant
twelve reversals, or percentage OF =
per cent. 9 per cent less than Judg
Aikens for the two years and for tn
four wears. We have not been able t
And a complete record of Judge Pal
mer's cases, but the reversals wer
about 40 per cent.
Judse Jones Therefore has far bette
record than his predecessors In thi
circuit. How about the other circuits
We md that during the past fou
wears In the First circuit there hav
been twenty-five affrmances and elev
en- reversals, percentage OF twenty
nine: in the Third thirty-three affirm
ances and thirty-four reversals. per
centage of 81. in the Fourth twenty
Ave aff1rmances and eight reversals,
percentage of twenty-four. In tn
Fifth forty-eight affirmances an
eight reversals, percentage OF TWEEN
ances and fourteen reversals percen
taRe of Is and in the Eighth, Oudg
Plovman's district thirteen afhrm
ances and twenty-four reversals. PEI
centage Of IS.
During the past four years 1914 case
have been appealed to the suprem
court from the various circuits. @
these 24S have been affirmed and IA
reversed. The percentage of reversal
has been 81. During his entire teri
Judge Jones has had twenty-nine De
cent Of reversals and during the pal
two years twenty-four. and no juds
las had 70 low except Judge Hane
and the latter being on the suprem
bench had the opportunity to revie'
his own decisions. Considering tn
vast volume Of business handled