The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-02
REFORM or run JUDICIARY.

Governor Mount. in his recent message,
called attention to the necessity for re-
vision of the judiciary of the State. His
suggestions looked to increasing the effi-
cheney and reducing the cost of our judi
cial system. One point which he empha-
sized was the continual increase in the
number Of courts, with of course a CORE
spending increase in the number of court
officials and in court expenses. It has been
true for many years that courts were null
tiplying more rapidly than population or
litigation, and that in many cases new
courts were created for other considerations
than the public interests. This increase of
courts" said the Governor, lis attended
with a growing evil The judge called 10
preside over q circuit of one county is
usually one of the large practitioners at the
bar of that county and hence interested
in pending litigation, which, in many cases,
disqualiies him from acting as judge. This
necessitates the calling of a special judge,
who is paid by the State to do the work of
the judge who has been chosen, and who is
also paid salary for this service. During
the last three years the State has paid to
The report of the Bureau of Statistics, re-
Gently published, shows that the expense of
special judges last year was $9.444 This is
one of the smallest items of the cost of the
judiciary, but it is one of the most indie
feasible, because it represents double pay
ment for services. The report of the Blu
reau Of Statistics further shows that dur
la ba nd Wiz
and bailifs of the various courts cost
SSJS, 26444; changes Of venue cost SAG, $685.
and miscellaneous court expenses were
$2O6,45S1S making a grand total including
expense of special judges, of 1855, 800. To
this must still be added the salaries of the
circuit judges, $4,000 and salaries of pros
ecuting attorneys, $2S, 800 The costs of It'll
cation and the fees of court officials are not
strictly speaking. part of the expense of
the judiciary, but they are greatly in
creased by the number Of courts and their
dilatory methods of doing business. There
is no means of estimating these costs, but
they are enormous. If these figures are
even approximately correct they show that
there is as much need for reform and room
for retrenchment in our judiciary as in any
other branch of public service What
method of reform should be adopted to cure
present evils and to increase the efficiency
of the judiciary while reducing its cost is a
question for lawyers rather than for laymen
As there is always a large proportion of
lawyers in the Legislature that body should
be equal to the undertaking. It seems quite
clear that the judicial circuits should be
considerably enlarged, thus reducing the
number of courts and judges, that the tenure
of judicial Office should be considerably ex-
tended that the standard of qualification
for judicial service should be raised, and
such salaries paid as would secure a better
class of talent and better service. With a
considerable reduction in the number of
judges this could be done and still keep the
aggregate cost less than it is at present
Many other things might be DONE but these
changes would be good beginning towards
reform in the judiciary.