The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-05-30
THE LAWYERS RIGHT.

Dau case ne IailS upon MS adversary
client and abuses him. This is the at
titude of the defenders of the First
Judge of tn First Circuit. 1t has been
decided, apparently, to appeal from the
bar which knows what it is talking
about, to the mass which dor not know
the rules of etiquette between bench
and bar. does not understand or care
for argument but which can under
stand political abuse and virulence.
Such an attitude unfortunately
strengthens the argument against the
Judge, because it shows that his course
has political aims, that it is a political
judgeship that he has succeeded in es-
tablishing, and not political judge
ship belonging to the party which he
has professed to represent, but a poll
teal party which hates the Republ-
can party with a rancorous hatred. and
whose patron saint is Cleveland. Mas
Iuerade as The party, which Delegate
Wilcox says is under the leadership of
the First Judge of the First Circuit,
and it will be found, if the mask is
pulled off that there is an antagonist
ism, as it is understood on the main
land in every case.
But this is by the way. To draw a
herring over the track is a very old
plan for, spelling fox chase but the
old hounds know the scent of reynard
and are not to be deceived by the
rank smell of the fishy substitute, and
they follow reynard IN with a joyous
bell like sound which soon makes the
russell rascal tremble for his brush,
while the young hounds, that have
been deceived, race hard to join their
experienced leaders and the whole
pack gets together again.
Yesterdays meeting of the Bar AS
ISOLATION was an important one. 1t
showed the unfortunate position that
the Bench as represented by the First
Judge of the First Circuit and the
Bar occupy towards one another
1t is a position of distinct and
unequivocal hostility. The Bar Asso-
citation was represented by forty
six of it's members. The balance of
the members being either away from
Islands and a few for reasons not
wishing to come. The only difference
of opinion was as to the manner of
the censure upon the Judge in ques-
ton. The fact that the Judge had done
wrong was emphasized by Mr.. Hatch's
resolution as much rs by Mr.. Robert
sons, and the Speeches made in
SUPPORT ,1f he OH
t. %"anted that the Judge had ex-
ceeded his powers. 1t was a unani-
nous opinion against the Judge. AS to
the method of dealing with the posi-
ton, one way was supported by an
overwhelming majority. the other by
small minority.
Let us consider the resolution of Mr.
Hatch. 1t resolves that lit deprecates
the attitude of the Hon. A. S. Humph-
reys towards the attorneys of his court
as an infringement of the right of
every lawyer to practice law fearlessly
and independently in the interests of
his client
This is a very serious arrai nment
of the court. 1t is the most scathing
statement showing that even those
lawyers who can find or think they can
find some palliation for the Judges
conduct, yet consider that that conduct
precludes a lawyer from practicing law
fearlessly and independently" This
after all is the true charge AGAINST
Judge Jeffries of execrable memory. 1t
was not his cruelty in sentencing. for
the law of his time allowed cruelty in
punishment, it was not his brutal man
ner towards the prisoners before him,
other Judges We're guilty of like bru-
tally but it was systematic brow
beating of any member of the bar who
came forward to defend the prisoners.
He Systematically "precluded a lawyer
from practiCing law fearlessly and in
dependently." 1t is upon this that his
infamy rests. The poor unfortunates
who came before him could not state
their case, because Jeffries had terro- !
rized the bar Of his day The general |
idea is that Jeffries sentences were the
chief cause of his infamy. In this he
was only like too many Jud~es of his |
own time and since. His crime Law, |
as the crime Of any judge must lie in
preventing a client having a fair de-
fence made.
When judge starts in to brow beat
the bar which practices before him,
when he prevents an alleged state
ment of fact being put forward be-
cause he thinks it reflects upon him
self, and breathes threatenings and SEN
fences on account of it's being brought
forward he ceases to be a clear mind |
ed judge and he has set to work to
undermine the pillars Of justice He
shows that things must go to his way
of thinking or it is not wise to present
them.
Jeffries roared out to his attorney
"Oh! thou naughty rogue, wouldst
thou defend these enemies of the king ?
10 g,Nlyp IL "a,