The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-12-03

hindhandedness with its docket seem to
know what Is the trouble-what the eN-
set condition of the docket is. or how IL
came to he 50 far behind. IL Is simply
known that the court is now. and for
some years has been. about four years
behind ian the disposition of its civil busi-
ness. and that is held sufiicieht py
thoushtless critics to Justify abuse of the
present justices. who are In no wise 10
blame for existing conditions, but who
deserve hiIh praise for their seli-sacrl-
ficin. efforts Ia .atch up with the con-
stanily increasing work.
There are now on the supreme court
docket awaiting decision. $40 civil cases.
'.nc court Is now working on civil cases
submitted at the January term or 1870
The court which consists of three JUS
tices elected fof terms of six years each'
holds two terms annually-the January
and June terms As a matter ol tact,
an. court is constantly in session except
during a short recess each summer. n,
THE beginning Of each term all eriiii'ii'''
casas appe,Ied To that term are taken up
az once ana decided. The new c'Vil cases
take their regular order on the docket
-7I,s WAY il. which the supreme oou,
..,t q. far behind is th1s cNplalheu'
I-n.l.r the old constitution of 100 '''
.,-~tfees were appointed 10y the governor
Tor lie terms one of IN" rephoh''''
.ii Vaiutees under that constitution va
Justic. Van Nalxenburg. an amiape
gentleman and learned jurisL tnlof-
ttrrateiy. for several years during INV
n.i,Ial,. 'Ssi-. Judge Van N3lkcnhhfS VIZ
v.ry feeble. in s.ct an invalid. and was
ur able IL carry his part of the court ;
work At this same period Florida be-
a.n to de-.Isp very rapidly. and litigd-
ti,u VA. increasing enormously. Appeals
4. th.. supreme court increased in pro-
r.rtiou. and crippled as the court WAS,
fH. concession Of the docket began anu
tne court got way behind.
'rh.. arSt Justices of tn new court.
as tu. Supr M court as at ptesen or
slniz.d under the constitution of l>>' IS
sometimes called. were net elect untll
IN fan 81 ISIS. rhey-Justices Maxwell
Mitchell and Rlney-found the docket
in sadly backward condition. and the
numt ar of new cases Increasing more
,apillv than ever. They did al in their
power e. prevent further congestion oI
ih. docket but were not entirely size
ccssfuL one cause of IN sir failure was
The horrible condition in which recordS
ltun TIN trial courts We're sent mp. n
printed record was rarely ever seen, ana
sseu tyueWritteu records were the "N-
q. utiuns. OF course. a tremendous amount
az time was consumed in deciphe~ing bad
q. rmauShip in the records. hut there was
up Iaw or rul. of court to require PRINT
e.i ur sype Nrit-cn records. Since lN' aii
faYsrs ti.I ln the count have been Ic-
evIred io DE- riths- printed or typewri-
tern After two Ca ;hre- wears az slavery
as this work. Judges Maxwell aad Nil "a
IN resigned the latter tn become roN-
,rr.r. Th.--,. changes in tine member
snip ~ the court. anJ Others which fol-
lowed. are assigned bv some as another
r...-n, ,rnr the court dd mot make
,.r,.iter u.ldwav. each new Justice haV-
irss 1. adapt himself I'D th~ di~courasins
conditions found TIN principal reason
however was tn fact That the NUMBER
af ueN .He.e continued 10 Increase large
lr sash -,a~ until the et AT irerzc "i
lN- ehe. fyI litigation hy plralA @lnS
business 90 Florida fur tim"
If fsa hlpue fact. mot credited h4
many critics however that for seVcral
,..trs ut~t tn -olit has been disposing
ur rs many uld civil cases as new clNh
..s..- ysu. in. AND IL Is even making
some. SLIGHT progress toward catching
ur DO i~ admitted 10y the bar that me
present suprcm" Court-TaAior. g J., anu
Aiabry and Garter. JJ.-is on" ~ inc
.-ruuz..s, iu the history 81 the state. Al
TESTIFY fnat these three justices are lii-
.rAlls working themselves to dellh ih
.u ,llurt rs rut down the cou8~sied con
st.tfau ~ that duchct. n would rathtt
rIta th.. g.3r raund thaa be fl"iiia
-rfreln.. court ludse, is a common OK
I.rt -ian with aif.iha~-et tus no know
B hereof th srss3c
800 Interests are now demanding thA1
s, in.- r,ii-. iu promptly round hy llo
r...-- Stature which Ia soon 20 meet ini
9Th. conditions which now obtain ln iht
$50. -,-Iu. court. The lc-lsla ture i- -"iidli
., s1u. f.ti.. ana tn. remedy rcc"mWrnd-
1850 br III. last democratic state conv"n-
.f aus-lAmeut tu rh" constitution
$50 as tn fsI~ the court consist OF SIX
Justice. iu-t .ad of three. and tho court
ts work Boo two dlvi@iuns-Wlll pl"bahlE
f. provided. I;gt the constitutional
amendment tssU NOT possibly ho adopted
H.rtW th. general election m November
f.-. aud it iS understood that there is "a
STRONG mny. me nj To- have ia" legislature
rsurVid. far the interim court commits
-iuu nf three lawyers. VINO shan assist
-Na court hv taking up eases ana VIII
ine opinions therein, which. " adopted
Ir tho court proper after consideration.
shlU b. thc opinion ri The court some
..au.,l th- prlcticabiiitv of this scheme