Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-05-05
ABOUT ASSOCIATE JUDGES.
Their Necessity and Their Duties
Clearly Defined.

WIOI0 al dDl6 dFUlCl6 OH JuBIlCeS Ol Tho
Peace, which was replete with instruc-
ton and interest, both in a legal and
historical point of view. Afterward
thinking of Associate Judges, I noted
for several years whatever I could find
about their duties and powers, as /
knew they were considered by many
we'll informed people as of little value
to the public, but have found this to be
a grand misunderstanding that they are
of more use to the people in vacation
when there is no court than they are
during the sittings of the court. Out
of the 81 judicial districts in the State
only seven have Associate Judges any
more, Forest county being in the 37th
district Their duties, when there is
no court in session, are many and their
powers multifarious, as will be seen by
the following brief synopsis, under
rules of court as follows:
Rule 6 empowers them on cause
shown, in vacation, to enlarge the time
for filing affidavits or defense in all
actions of assumpsit and Scire Facias
on mortgages and judgments Rule 9,
to approve bail ON attachment cases
and stay of execution on notice and
application. By rule IA, Sec 2 and 8,
to grant an allocatur or allowance, re-
quiring bail in any case, and by Sec. 8,
to approve of bail which has been sub.
stituted or justified and administer
oaths. BY rule II, to stay proceedings
by special order, on cause shown, on
the appeal from the taxation of costs.
aud to shorten or extend the time for
taking of evidence or depositions. In
divorce cases to grant leave to at
torneys to issue subpoenas and papers
But the most important ofall is under
rule %, on stay of executions, to pre-.
vent oppression or correct mistakes or
frauds on application to suspend any
writ in the hands of the Sheriff on
reasonable notice until the next court
when the case can be heard by a full
bench Under rule %, Associate
Judges have power on cause shown to
both enlarge the time for pleading or
filing specifications. Under the Habeas
Corpus act, have full power at chamb-
ers to grant relief, remand to Jail,
reduce excessive bail or discharge from
imprisonment. Also under act of AS.
sembly to set or fix bail in in criminal
cases where Justices have no jurisdic-
tion. By act of 1887, P. laws 1893: to
approve bonds under the fraudulent
debtors act and grant relief. Again
where the body ofa citizen is seized by
tax collector, by virture of his war.
rant, for the nonpaynient of tax, and
claims irregularity or oppression, he
may apply for relief to an Associate
Judge in vacation, by staying the COL
lection of the tax upon his giving bond
until the matter can be determined bv
the Court
The Associate Judge has power to
grant permission to attorney or holder
OF Judgment note over ten years old
for leave to issue on said note upon
affidavit before him that the maker ia
still living and the note unpaid. An
Associate Judge under the Price Act.
18th April, 1853, relating to private
sales of real estate both in the Orphans
and q. P. Courts, is competent to take
ahdaVlts, grant orders, etc., concern,
ing the same, as are necessary in vaca
ton
Under Act 25, June, 1895. P. L.. 23O.
an Associate Judge can grant rules in
vacation to take dispositions in other
States, in the same manner as if taken
In this State, and make orders shorten
ing or lengthening the time. By act
oth May, 1890, can approve railroad
ana corporation bonds in vacation.
By act of 23d of March 1876, can ap
point policemen for camp meetings.
By act of 18th April, 1875, may grant
and allow an appeal in all cases of sum-
mary convictions before Justices.
First Pur., 143. An Associate Judge
may appoint two appraisers in cases of
insolvency and perform other duties
under assignment for benefit of Credit
ors Act. An Associate Judge in vaca-
ton can allow appeal from Judgment
of a Justice of the Peace for a penalty
under Pure Food law, or fish law acts
or the like. 174 Pa, Reps, %. An
Associate Judge can approve all assig-
nees' bonds, under act of 1883, Pur.
144, n. An Associate Judge has power
under act of June 20, 1895, to hear and
determine cases of persons frequently
intoxicated within six months and con-
sign them to an inebriate asylum or the
Work House for period not less than
three or more than nine months.
Under Act 18th of March, 1886, Sec. 8,
an Associate Judge can approve judg-
ments in default of appearance and
affidavits of defense, and actions of
Partition.
1t is also worthy of mention that an