New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-24
TUESDAY,
APRIL "a, 1900.
PLANS FOR COURT SYSTEM.
STATE BAR ASSOCIATION MAY MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS NEXT MONTH.

For years the revision of and changes in the
system of the courts of New-Jersey have from time
to time been discussed. The discussion has OF late
been active. and it is probable that the
committee of the Bar Association appointed some
time consider the matter may have some
recommends lions TO make AZ IT'S meeting next
month The committee appointed by the State
Bar Association is composed OF j. Franklin Fort.
chairman; Joseph Cross, of Union County; James
J. Bergen of Somerset; A. @. Ciarretson. OF Hud-
son; Clement H. Sinnickson OF Salem; Eugene
Stevenson. of Passsic; d. o. Watkins. of Glouces-
ter; Allen Strong of Middesex, and Robert Wood
ruff OF Mercer. Attorney General Samuel H. Grey.
the president of the State Bar Association is also
oficO a member OF the committee.
One of he subjects which the committee has
under consideration is the abolition Of the present
Court of Errors and Appeals and the institution OF
an Appellate Court in It's place. The Court OF
Errors and Appeals, constituted, consists
of the Chancellor. who presides the Chief Justice
and the eight Associate Justices of the Supreme
Court and six lay judges-sixteen members in all
The proposition now most fayorably entertained is
five members. which. if adopted. would do away
n1enbers Of ,b new, roirt yvo.ti5 All he IaTrzsrs
whereas the members Of the present court may or
matter of fact all but two of the lay judges who
being C;ottfried Erueger Of Essex and Iohn w
Bogert, OF Bergen.
EFFECTS OF PROPOSED CHANGE
Speaking casually of the matter yesterday. Sem
Cross, who is a member of the committee OF
the Bar Association. said that the proposition to
do away with the Court of Errors and Appeals
and to institute in its stead Appellate. popu-
be- meeting with cons.des bis favor As the Pres
ent Court of Errors constituted has no original
Justice and the Associate Justices of the Supreme
Court are members of it, The scheme contemplated
by the new system would require an entirely new
court IN which neither The Ghief Justice nor the
no original jurisdiction but would sit Independently
in that respect would be the same as the Old court.
The fact that the Chief Justice and the Asso-
in cir in
of the State. and therefore. necessarily come in
on appeal is regarded by some jurists as an OBJ
nd on e OF h resent Court st
lawyers take the opposite view. and hold TO the
tees do sit in circuits is an advantage to the
litgants because their familiarity with the litiga
r9tS which might be the case in the proposed plan
only Contact With the people. they say. is ad.
var 70 any court LawyeTs on both sides OF
which they favor would be the most acceptable to
about equal number and force. 1t is thought that
the majority Of the State Bar Association Com
tonai amendment would be required to make it
THE COURT OF CHANCERY.
The death of Chancellor McCi1 has revived the
former agitation for the abolition of the Court of
Chancery. AT one time ii seemed, as Senator Cross
remarked. that the Court of Chsncery in
fair way to follow the fate in New-Jersey which
both Senator cross and c9Ternor Voorhees, notbin
but the appointment of Theodore Runyon nearly
ment of Alexander T. McCiill almost fourteen years
had saved the Court of Chancery from disso-
luton In their opinion it the eminent ability
and the graceful social endOwTne1tS of these
Charcellors which had saved the court In fact.
they had only perpetuated it but had made 1t
popular II is we'll known that both of these Chan
cellors were among the most genial and most able
Chancellors that the State has ever had. That
they worked hard during their terms OF office has
been eoquently attested by the fact that Chancellor
RunyOE greatly impaired his health by his faithful
attention 70 his duties, and that Chancellor Nc
GIN actually s dsd from oyerwoEk Il is note
is probably a lawyer in the State who does
not feel that the death of Chancellor McGin is a
personal loss, not only because of his ability
and integrity. but for the reason also that the
temper of his mind such that. while he
i'll. he always easy approach and ready
listen any counsellor who had business with
his court. whether he was of Iong standing or OF
admission the bar.
AS the office OF Chancellor is a constitutional
one, and there be Court of Chancery
until the successor of the late Chancellor McGill is
appointed. Governor Voorhees, will make the ap-
continent soon as II can with propriety and with
due respect be made.