New-York tribune., 1900-06-15

JUSTICE WOODWARD, OF THE SUPREME
COURT, ADDRESSES THE
GRADUATES

The ninth annual commencement of the New
York Law School was held at Carnegie Music Hall
last evening. George ChasS dean of the school.
presided. and address to the graduating class
delivered by John Woodward. Justice of the
Supreme Court, Appellate Division. lid Depart
ment The degree of Bachelor of Laws was
ferred upon. 135 members of the senior class. The
degree of Master OF Laws was conferred upon
twelve members of the third year class. Prizes
were awarded to the following members of the
graduating classes First prize to Ralph Stout.
second prize to Harry n. Vessel and third prize
George B. MaeComber A prize was also awarded
to Leo Oppenheimer of the third year class. and
another to John G. Stefee. of the evening school.
The prize fellowship was also awarded TO Ralph
Stout This office entities the recipient to yearly
salary of $500. and continues for three years.
Among the members of the graduating class are
sons OF ]. Frederic Kernochan; OF Judge Hirsch-
berg, of the New-York Supreme Court. and
nephew of st. Clair McKelway. Judge Woodward
in his address said. among other things:
Judges is as shf rea T5 Of r d zsn t9 be tried by
of humanity viii admit It is, therefore. not only
the best policy but makes for the security of the
Judges Of the supreme judicial court should hold
e Ing1r ON 0ldces & as long as they behave themselves
ascertalned a and established by standing laws. In
iative department snail never exercise the execu-
tive and judicial powers. either of them; the ex-
judicial powers either of Them the judicial shall
never exercise the legislative and executive pow
government Of laws and of
Have you we'll considered the immense scope of
supreme Jurfstic power? Let me recapitulate. The
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court extends to all
cases OF law and equity arising under the Con-
stution the laws of the United States and treaties
made or which shall be made under their author
ity; TO all cases affecting ambassadors and other
public ministers and consuls; all cases of Ad
mralty and maritime Jurisdiction; TO all cases in
which the United States shall be a party; to con-
troverses between two or more States, between a
state ana citizens of another State between citi-
zens of different States. between citizens of the
same state claiming lands under grants of diff
ferent States n
thereof and foreign States. citizens or subjects.
In contemplating the holy of holes of our judi
cary De Iocqueyile, that keen observer and pro
placed at the head of all known tribunals, both by
the nature OF its rights and the class of justtabe
parties it controls. While it's constitution is
political. The peace, the prosperity and the very
existence OF the Union are invested In the hands
of the seven judges" (The seven. of course, have
since been increased TO nine)
Without their active cooperation the Constitu
ton would be dead letter. The executive appeals
to them against the of the Legislative
from the designs of the executive They defend
the Union from the disobedience of the States the
States from the exaggerated claims OF the Union,
the public interest against the interest of private
citizens and the conservative spirit of order against
the feeting innovations of democracy Their power
public opinion
The opinions of Supreme Court have never
failed to command respect. They have seldom
mind of age to write it's laws. Judges only
the stenographers of their generation, who write
down their decisions at the dictation of universal
experience. As Emerson well says: THE nervous
of our courts and the precision and the substantial
truth of the legal distinctions the contribution
have lived in those countries where those laws
govern