Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-29
FOR DISTRICT JUDGE
President Selects Justice
Pritchard's Successor.
WENDELL P. STAFFORD,
NOW OF VERMONT, THE MAN
CHOSEN.
Bar Association Meets and Passes Resov
lutions Of Commendation for
RAfirfn0 JuStice
WENDELL P. STAFFORD,

the Supreme Court of the District of CO.
lumbia to succeed Justice Pritchard, who
has been nominated and confirmed as judge
of the fourth circuit of the United States
Attorney General Knox announced the
action of the President at the conclusion
of the cabinet meeting. He said that Mr..
Stafford's name had been seriously consid-
cred for the District bench at the time
Judge Wright of Ohio was appointed Mr.
Stafford at that time was energetically
pushed for judgeship by Senator Proctor
who Immediately began work at the White
House day or so ago when II was found
that there would be a vacancy on the s,-
preme bench Senator Proctor was at tho
White House this morning accompanied by
his colleague, Senator Dillingham; They
urged the appointment of Mr.. Stafford and
the President agreed upon him.
The District Bar Association had been
called In session 10 make a recommended
ton to the President OF q local man, and
the announcement completely forestalled
any action by that body.
Judge Stafford's Career.
Judge Stafford is from st. Johnsbury and
has been an associate justice of the eu.
preme court of Vermont for a number OF
years. having been elected to that position
upon the election Of Jonathan Ross to the
unexpired term of the late Senator Morrill,
In the Senate. Judge Stafford is about
forty-two years old and is described AZ
one of the brilliant lawyers of Vermont
In addition to his fine legal attachments he
Is OF literary mind and is the author OF
North Flowers, work that has attract
ed attention.
Judge Stafford was at first undesIrous of
coming to Washington. it is said His po-
sitlon at present is a high and honorable
one, but the salary is only 81 800 a year,
los ant t,t ft,.l,, Al.
preme justices on the local bench
Judge Stafford read law many years ago
with Henry c. Ide. the vice governor Of
the Philippines. and later graduated from
Boston University. He then entered into
partnership with AIR Ide. but sooa sew
cred this connection and practiced law
alone. In politics he was of an independ.
ent disposition, although a republican and
was at one time an unsuccessful candidate
for Congress from the second district, or
rather for the nomination
Judge Stafford is a man of family and OF
social incinatons. He has a wife and one
child.
Judge Pritchard to Remain Here
Awhile.
After conference with the Attorney
General Justice Pritchard has decided to
remain a member of the District Supreme
Court for at least month longer. f
is understood that the Department of Jus
tice desires that he should continue to
serve here for short time at least. The
most important matter to be called to his
attention, probably will involve the set
ting and signing of the bill of exceptions
in the Machen-Groff-Lorenz case. Justice
Prftchard will also preside during the trial
of Tyner and Barrett, and perhaps
throughout the trials of several other i'm.
portant cases on the calendar Of Criminal
Court No. 1 prior to assuming bis new
duties a United States circuit Judge.
The room of Criminal Court No. 2, city
hall, was crowded late this afternoon by
me mbers of the bar, who assembled In re-
sporse to the call issued yesterday for
meeting to pass on proposition that tho
President be asked to appo Mt local man
as Justice Pritchard's successor. The meet
ing was called to order shortly after B
O'Clock, and was in progress when this re-
port closed. Announcement was made that
Justice Stafford of Vermont had been APP
pointed to succeed Justice Pritchard. SO the
meeting merely considered resolutions COM
me endatory of Justice Pritchard-
Bar Resolutions on Prltchard.
Among the resolutions presented was one
offered by Mr.. Henry f. Davis to the eject
that the chairman of the meeting appoint
a committee of fifteen, including himself
as chairman thereof. to prepare and report
to a further meeting to be held Saturday,
MAY T. at IL clock am, suitable resolu.
tions expressive of the sense of the bar OF
lno DistliCt tiiS Nc'ii''o ASe'sNAA~~s~s
of Justice Pritchard.
A resolution prepared by Mr.. d. w.
Baker set forth that as Justice Pritchards
by reason of his appointment to the circuit
court bench. He will be compelled to re-
sign as an associate justice OF the su-
prene court of the District of Columbia
The members of the bar of the District
of Columbia, while extending to him their
feel the keenest and most
sincere regret I'm the event which necessi.
tales his resignation. The resolutions point
out that Justice Pritchard has won the ad-
miration and esteem of every member OF
the bar, and has endeared himself to t1ose
who were fortunate as to have his per-
sonal acquaintance; that while he came to
the bench of the District of Columbia q
stranger to majority Of the
members of the bar, he departs friend TO
then. all and each considers his departure
a personal loss, and that his kind and
courteous manner to attorneys who have
appeared before him, his strength of char
acter and sterling integrity and, above all
his fair and impartial rulings have placed
him among the most esteemed judges OF
the present day.
Mr. Bakers resolutions provide that q
of seven be appointed to pre-
sent the views embodied in the foregoing
to Justice Pritchard.
Commended in His Home Papers.
Justice Pritchard today received copies
of editorials published I'm influential demo.
cratic newspapers of North Carolina reia-
to his new appointment. The Raleigh
News and Observer said:
when ex-senator Jeter c. Pr!tchard was
appointed to position the bench In the
District Of Columbia, 1t was understood
that 1t was a temporary assignment, and
that he would succeed Judge Simonton
upon that gentleman's retirement from the
circuit bench. The expected has happened
and yesterday President Roosevelt sent
Judge Pritchard's name to the Senate He
will no doubt be promptly confirmed, for
his former associates IN the Sen1te will be
glad to give a vote of confidence to him.
Judge Pritchard has made a reputation
I'm his short experience as criminal judge
In Washington city. The bar and the peo-
Die unite In commentator. He has held
the scsies of justice evenly and known no
favoritism. In two or three important