The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1903-12-19

for law, and thereby breaks down the
mainstay Of the judiciary, for the courts
are strong only RS the people respect
them, and without regard for law there
can be little regard for courts.
ORAL OPINIONS.
''Of the cases actually decided by the
court emitting those disposed of on mo-
ton, compromise, etc. over one-fourth
are decided orally"
II understand You are opposed to oral
opinions2'
Yes, emphatically so, I do not think
it inst to the litigants or to the lawyers
for their cases to be decided orally. The
lawyers are required to print abstracts
aud briefs setting forth the facts and the
law relied upon, ard think it only right
and fair to them and to their clients and
to the public that some memorial should
be given by the court for the decision
rendered, 80 that the parties interested
and those who are interested In like
questions, may know upon what ground
the case WAS decided
IN 1895 my announcement contained
the following: Should become mem
Der Of the court would advocate writ
ten opinions in all cases except cases
taken for purpose Of delay which should
be advanced aud summarily disposed Of
In 1901 in the State Bar Association
u resolution WAS submitted TO the associ-
alton to ask the supreme court to decide
all cases orally until it caught up with
the business This ELECTED full discus.
sion OF this question aud that resolution
was decisively defeated and in lieu Of it
the bar association adopted the follow
ing resolution;
d" That it Is the sense Of this associa-
ton that an opinion should be written in
every case decided by the supreme court,
whether the decision be- Of alfirmance,
reversal or modification unless the case
shall be decided upon prior rulings Of
the court, in which event the reporter
should report the facts Of the case and
cite the decisions Of the court W hich
controlled its judgment
1T WAS indeed gratifying to me that
the position which had assumed in
1895 WAS the position recommended by
80 distinguished body OF lawyers rs
the Arkansas State Bar Association. -
DELAY CASES
Then you would not favor oral de.
cisions in any casesr''
None except in those cases appealed
for the maniiest purpose Of obtaining
the delay which this condition Of affairs
affords, Such cases should be summari.
ly disposed Of, and TO the judgement
should be added the ten per cent penalty
authorized by statute for thus trining
with the court which plan think would
deter many frivolous appeals. "
LOCATION OF THE JUDGES AND CAN.
DlDAlEs,
Where do the members Of the court
and your probable opponents residel"
None OF the members Of the court
are from western Arkansas That vast
territory lying north and west Of the
main line Of the Iron Mountain railway,
section more than half the state In
area, IN population and In Democratic
votes, has no representative on the sup,
RENE bench, and all Of my probable op.
ponents reside In eastern or southern
Arkansas or Little Rock none hail FROM
THIS greater half OF the state,
This IL an argument which should
have no weight Guless thu candidate FROM
western Arkansas Ia equally rs well
/ qualified as ANY OF the other candidates,
qualifications being equal, then a prefer.
euee should be given 10 the unreprvsenl.
ed halt OF the state, In the diveleiAed
Interests aud resources VI Arkansas dif,
teieht conditions, problems and yitua.
tlOns are presented aud 1t wunld certain.
ly add strength to the bench to be com.
posed OF men familiar with the VARYING
local conditions OF our state, -
PERSONNEL OF the JUDGES,
/ "llayr you anything to SAY Ia regard
to the personnel Of the courtYn
. "fcs, | have prscticed continuously
before sach OF the Judges since he has
bern npon the bench, excerpt Judge
Battle, whose work upon the bench
began before my work began before that
ben b While | have for \ long time
oppossl their policy of administration