Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1904-06-02
SWAYZE COMES
TO THIS CIRCUIT.

Taking advantage Of the authority
vested In them by the last legislature,
the justices of the supreme court have
decided on an almost complete re. ar
rangement of the judicial districts of
the State. Five of the nine circuits
have been changed, so far as county
lines are concerned, and, with the ex-
ception Of the chief justice and JUS
tioe Dixon. who will retain their pres
ent assignments. the jurists will sit
either in new fields or have their. pres
emit territory changed. The changes
will take effect June Is, and certifi-
cate setting forth this fact will be filed
with the clerk Of the supreme court
probably tomorrow.
In the first circuit. which includes
Atlantic. Cumberland. Cape May and
Salem counties, there has been no
change. in. territorial lines, but Justice
Charles E. Hendrickson. who has held
this post since his appointment. will
be superseded by Justice Francis J.
Swayze.
The second circuit, which is COM
posed of Burlington, Camden and
Gloucester counties, will be changed,
Burlington county being transferred
to the Third circuit. Justice Charles
q. Garrison will preside over the two
counties, instead of the three, as he is
doing at present.
Justice Hendrickson will, as stated,
president in the Third circuit, which.
instead of comprising Union and
Ocean counties, as at present, will in
clude Monmouth, Burlington and
Ocean counties. Justice Bennett Van
Scykel, who has presided over the
Third district for number of years,
will retire from the court June 1.
The Fourth circuit remains un-
changed as to territory. but Justice
Alfred Reed will follow Justice
Swayze. and will sit in Mercer, Hun
terdon and Warren counties.
The Fifth circuit will be made up of
Middlesex and Union counties. instead
| of Monmouth and Middlesex. as at
| present. Justice John Franklin Fort,
who has the Fifth circuit at present.
| will continue under the new condi-
| tions.
The Sixth and Seventh circuits are
the only ones where no changes were
made. . Chief Justice William S. Gum
mere will continue in the Sixth,
which is Essex county, and Justice
Jonathan Dixon will have the Sew
enth. Hudson county.
The Eighth circuit. at present COM
posed of Morris. Somerset and Sussex
counties, has been changed. and will
hereafter include Bergen. Morris,and
Somerset. Justice Abram @. Garrett
son will continue to officiate in this
| circuit.
In the Ninth circuit Sussex county
will take the place of Bergen, and
with Passaic will be presided over by
Justice Mahlon Pitney.
The changes were effected at con-
ference of the court held last Friday.
Previous to the last session of the leg
islature the judicial districts of the
State could not be rearranged except
by the sanction of the legislators. but
by an act passed last winter the Court
was empowered to make changes to
suit IFS convenience. There has been
feeling for several years back that
the districts were not equally divided.
and the work in some of the circuits
was much heavier than in others.
For instance, in Monmouth and Mid
dlesev and in Passaic and Bergen, the
work has been considered heavy. while
in Morris, Somerset and Sussex, and
in Monmouth, Ocean and Union,
where there are fewer people, there
hassnot been SO much litigation. For
this reason the changes were made.
After the districts had been rear
ranged the appointments were made
according to seniority, with the ex-
ception Of the chief justice.
-N~H--