The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-11
TITLE BUT
No PLACE
The Circuit Judge
Makes Neigh
bors Smile.

Fluttering in borrowed plumage is
the general opinion Of the move of
First Circuit Judge Humphreys, in
sowing over a part of the United States
visiting cards bearing the inscription,
United States Circuit Judge" While
courtesy sometimes bestows the name
and title as quoted by the jurist, here
where the limitations of the jurisdic
ton of his court are known and COM
pretended, and where the Hawaiian
organic act defines them, the imperti-
nence of posing throughout the States
as a circuit judge of the United States
courts, reminds every one so forcibly
of the jackdaw with the discarded pea
cock feather as to be laughable.
In the States there is no other mean
ing to the title of circuit judge, than a
justice of the Circuit Court, which is
a superior body in jurisdiction to the
District Court, and has original juriS-
diction in many matters. There is ap-
peal only to the Circuit Court of APP
peals, and thence to the United States
Supreme Court, constitutional ques-
tons going to the higher body at once,
from a Circuit Court. This court is
regularly constituted and has its
standing and dignity, not upheld mere
ly by frequent fines and imprison-
ment. It's judges are men with highest
standing, whose position is not aSSail-
ed, and who are usually men of the
best mental attainments and undoubt-
ed personal integrity.
Here, there has been recognized since
last year only one United States judge,
and that is Morris NJ EStee. Last
evening Judge Estee was asked as to
the standing of the local courts, and
the relative rank of those judicial
branches of the government in the
Territory, and said: L am district
Judge, with the powers of a circuit
judge in many matters. I have done
all the business which pertains to
United States Courts since coming
here, and more than that do not wish
to say"
judge of the United States Courts
here" said Marshal Hendry last even
ing. 'Of course L serve the processes
of the commissioner of the court, but
there is no other judge who gives di-
rections to me-"
Judge Estee is the only judge of the
United States Courts here said Clerk
Walter B. Mailing last evening. "Of
course, in case of disability of Judge
Estee, his place would be filled by any
one of the justices of the District
Court of the ninth circuit. There is
no judge here to take his place"
Not only do these views of other Unit
ed States officials appointed by the
Washington authorities serve to prove
that even if the Department of JUS
tice does give the title to the inferior
courts, there can be no other purpose
in using it where the same titles mean
greater honors but to deceive as to
worth and position, but the very fact
that there is appellate jurisdiction held
by court which is known as the Ter
ritorial Supreme Court, shows that the
case is one Of borrowed plumage, and
very much bedraggled feathers at that.
Among attorneys who have known
practice outside of the Islands the pre-
sumption of the judge who parades
the title on his cards, arouses mirth.
They know what it all is done for, and
as we'll, knowing the position of the
courts. see the ridiculous side. At
least one of the associates of the jack
daw jurist never claimed the honor of
circuit judgeship of the United States
courts until his return to the Territory
and consultation with the now absent
one,