The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1898-01-29
a Suggestion to the Constitutions,
Convention.

Nearly all OF our exchanges and nuh-
nc men agree that the first act of the
Conventlon should be to properly settIe
the suffrage question. We are of the
same opinion. believing that this ones
ton is paramount. '' auo'
but question which should aIso he
gwen considerable attention is az to the
term OF ofhce OF the Judges of our Su-
preme Court. While some LAWYERS
nave mad something to say on this sub-
Ject, the newspapers have been silent
ptooaoiy Que to the fact that among
.iS ;pronioltions placed by the act pro-
lowing: ''o i'',
SAID C9vention shall be and is
hereby prohibited from enactine. or r.
ualning or framing any article or ordi-
nance, whereby the Offices of Chief
justice and Associate Justices of the
supreme Court shall be made electiva
or whereby the terms of Office of the
then encumbents shall be shortened or
their salaries diminished.r
Inns inhibition, however, does not
prevent the Convention from ertending
the terms of Office of the new ap
pointees TO the Supreme Court. We
"ouIo like 10 see the terms of the Su-
preme judges be during good behav,
ior," as provided by the Constitution nf
the United States for Federal Judges.
and as provided in many States of the
Union for their Supreme Judges. This
provision in the q. s. Constitution has
oeen there since the foundation of the
government, and has always given salts
faction. 1t has removed as far as nos
slble from the domain of politics these
high judicial Offices; it ia the reason
that the decisions of the Supreme Court
OF the U. 5. are consistent with each
otner, ac least more consistent than
could have been secured under any
other system it is the reason that there
Is greater stability in their decisions,
and consequently more confidence re-
posed in them than could possibly be in
the DEGREES of any Conrt whose Judges
are continually, at short intervals,
being changed.
Under our present system, our Su-
preme Judges are appointed for tern
OF twelve years, the first Court having
been composed of Judges appointed for
from IL to years respectively The
result has been that the personnel of the
Court has been changing too often.
With the expiration of their terms, the
resignation of others and the death
OF still others. the same Judges rarely
occupy the bench for more than two
years. The logical and actua! conse-
quence is that the decisions of this
Court are overruled again aud again !;
there is not that consistency and sta
bility in their DEGREES and opinions
which SO important tribunol should
preserve, and the complaint is frequent |
ly made, particularly among lawyers,
that it is impossible to say what will be
the outcome of a case, even though the |
same issues are involved as hive been |
previously before the Court.
We are firm in the belief that our
Supreme Judges should be appointed |
during good behavior" In that event,
there would be few changes in the
personnel of the Court, and even fewer
designations, as the office would be
practically for life, and judge would
not give up his place to seek better
one, because he would be sure of the
one he had. The advantages Of such
system are numerous, aud we respect
fully call the attention of the delegates
to the Convention to this important
matter.