The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-28
BAR ASSOCIATION
nEETS AT THE ELOISE
William A. rlorgan, ESQ.,, Reads an
In teresting and Valuable Paper
on professional Ethics"

without exception the meeting OF the
the Eloise last night. was the most in
teresting in the history of that organiza-
tion. The relations of the bench and bar
we're discussed without restraint, and the
subject of amending the divorce law was
| handled without gloves.
William A. Morgan read mastery
paper OH professional Ethics Start
ing with the early English law, he said
that legal ethics may be defined as the
rules governing the moral duties of the
legal profession.
"To the lawyer. the client I'm need OF
legal advice or wishing to prosecute or
defend his rights, is obliged to apply. He
places life. liberty and property in his
counsers hands. And 10 the credit of the
bar. be it said. he does so confidently,
believing that he may safely rely on his
counsers honor and fidelity.
But while the duty OF the lawyer TO
his client requires the strictest integrity
and the utmost faithfulness, it does not
permit him, must less require him. 10 do
any act I'm furtherance of his clients in
terests which is in violation of law, or
which is dishonorable.
BELIEF OF COUNSEL.
"of course, the belief of counsel in the
guilt or innocence of his client is OF no
significance. He is not the judge. 1t is
the province of the court and Jury 10 de-
f,f-
and impartial trial.
"A duty of the lawyer not always rec
ognized by him as such, is well stated
by Hon. George F.. Hoar. In an address
before the Virginia State Bar associa-
tion. In which he said: The lawyer should
study the law with the constant pur-
pose 10 do what ne can 10 amend and
perfect it
"It is singular that so much has been
said about the conduct of attorneys at
the bar and so little about their con-
duct after they are seated on the bench.
Probably it has been assumed that a
lawyer will not be placed upon the bench
until he has acquired experience good
sense. ana the proper dignity, and that
there is. therefore, no need 90 advise
him after he has reached that point in
his career.
Tho court and the bar are alike nee
essarv 20 the administration Of justice.
each is alike useless without the other.
The bar owes TO Fself, and 20 the public.
the duty OF assuming and maintaining a
high professional standard And by "a
high professional standard ] mean not
only good moral character. and COM
petent knowledge OF law. procedure and
practice, but also n high standard OF
courtesy and dignity.
1T has been truly said that a good
bar makes n good bench and its cor
relative must also be true that a weak
bar makes weak bench Tho bar can
strengthen the bench tho bench can do
little to strengthen the bar. The reasons
are obvious
BREACHES or COURTESY.
breaches of courtesy and exhibitions
Of III temper. or impatience either on tho
part of Judge or counsel, are liable 10
prevent a thorough discussion of the
question before the court, and may re-
suit In miscarriage OF justice. Further
than that. tho ono guilty of such mis-
conduct thereby suffers loss of public
respect Counsel have some slight ex-
cusc. because they are intensely inter
estcd. and zeal for their clients cause
may carry them. sometimes, beyond
proper bounds But the judge has no such
excuse.
Judges wish To he right and 10 do
light. and the corruption of a-lLd2n-
our higher courts Is extremely raro. hut
its possibility. under r. corrupt political
regime. should bc recognized For eX-
ample, II WAS possible under tho Tweed
regime in New York. md under that
regime o. was The bar association that
purgcd the bench.
The province OF the Judge and that ~
the advocate arc distinct, but they arc
intordepcndeut. and the admlnistratior
Oh Justice would bs sorry spectacle