The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-29
! UNDER THE DOME.
$<%%%<%%%%%%%*%%%*<<%<%%<<

The Legislature ought to make as many
judicial districts as are needed, whether
it is fourteen, sixteen, eighteen or twenty.
AS to how many weeks a Superior court
Judge ought to be assigned to hold court,
that is a matter to be considered, and
legislators should confer with present
and former judges before making up their
minds We have inclined to the idea that
forty weeks was not too much, leaving
twelve weeks for vacation, distin-
guished lawyer who once honored the
bench in a private letter gives view
that is entitled to great weight. We
make a few extracts:
Il see in your paper of the 9th an
editorial advocating giving forty weeks
court to each Superior court judge per
year. That would give five months in
spring and five in fall with thirty days
vacation in summer and same IN fall
Flesh and blood can't stand that strain
on the bench of a nsi prius court year
in and year out. There are some circuits
now that have FIVE months continuous
court and the consequence is the judge if
he does his duty is so worn down before
the end of the circuit that he can do lit
tie more than try the State docket. /
heard Judge Conner say in 1898 that the
Seventh district liked to have killed him.
| saw Judge Hol1e in December. He stat
ed that the Fifth district had nearly ex-
hausted his strength. The Eleventh and
Twelfth districts cover a period OF five
ami a half months on each circuit and
they are judge-killers. So is the Ninth.
The Eighth circuit lasts from January eth
10 June 1st, and the Ninth begins very
early in July, | think.
THE Supreme Court justices work only
six and a half months in each year. The
nervous strain on judge holding nisi
prius court is very great 1t is not like
out of door labor or any kind of manual
labor.
THE office of judge of Superior court
is the most important to the masses of
people and comes nearer to them than
any other in the State. The Office is the
poorest paid and hardest worked of any
now 1t ought not to be made so oner-
Gus and disagreeable that first class law
yers will not take it. The bar associa-
tion composed of lawyers from every
county and section in North Carolina at
ter a long discussion agreed on sixteen
judges as the smallest number necessary,
and recommended the abolition of the
Criminal courts.
County commissioners, clerks and
sherlffs are not nearly as we'll posted on
the needs Of counties as to court facilities
as members of the bar. This recommen-
dalton of State bar association ought to
be sufficient.
You also should bear in mind that
since 1885 when Superior court judges
were increased from nine to twelve the
| 4
some 400, 900 n fifteen years.
at seems to me that if judges can be
| intrusted with the life liberty and prop
erty of people their opinions might be
| considered as having weight upon the
court facilities and the labor a judge
can perform.
There is not fifty lawyers in North
| Carolina today who can go into court
| and try cases every day for three months
| much less five That is just what the
| Judge has to do and keep up with both
| sides Of each case. The mental wear
| and tear is great. Sometimes after con-
| slant work for three or four weeks have
| been mind weary. Towards the close of
| one Of the five months circuit | got worn
| down 1t takes considerable time to
| recuperate.''
Mr. Spainhcurs bill provides that there
shall be appointed by the Governor on or
| before Sept LIST, 1901, and every two
| years thereafter a Board of Examiners
! consisting of three members. that 1t shall
| he the duty of said board of examiners.
| during September October and November
| of every two years to visit all State In
| stitutions and examine the same. and on
or before December 1st make report
to the Governor, showing The condition
| and needs of each of the Institutions.
| together with their recommendations as
| 10 the amount the General Assembly
| should appropriate for each one, and the
| object for which said appropriation should
J be made. The board is also to report
any expenditures that are unnecessary,