Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-16
THEY WEAR THEERM|NE
Personnel Of the Supreme
Court of the District.
CHANGE IN FOUR YEARS
SKETCHES OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE
AND HIS ASSOCIATES.
Appointed for Life-All Comparatively
Young Men-No designations OF
Retirements Expected Soon.

The personnel of the Supreme Court of
the District of Columbia has undergone
complete change in the short space of four
years Never before since 1863, when the
court was created under its present form
did the entire membership of the bench
change in so brief a time. and the chances
are that it may never happen again. At all
events. the personnel of the court is likely
to remain il is for many years to come
unless totally unforeseen events should oc-
cur. All the justices are comparatively
young men. None will be eligible to retire
until he gains the age of seventy years and
there is no indication that any will resign.
The sweeping change in the membership
of the court was brought about by the res
ignations of Justice McComas and Justice
Cole. the death of Justice Bradley and the
voluntary retirement of Chief Justice Bling
ham and Justices Cox and Hagner.
The court now consists of Chief Justice
Ciabaush and Associate Justices Barnard
Anderson. Gould. PriIchard and Wright
Chief Justice CIabaugh.
After four years service as an associate
member Justice Clabaush was elevated by
president Roosevelt to the chief justiceship
the LIST of last May, TO succeed Chief JUS
itice Bingham. retired. He is now presiding
In Circuit Court No. with marked ability
One of the most noticeable characteristics
of Chief Justice Clabaugh is his purpose to
dispose of business with all dispatch con-
lslsteht with the giving of fair trial to
both the plaintiff and the defendant in each
cause heard before him.
Harry M Ciabaugh was born in Cumber-
iand Md July l6 1896, and lived there I'M
til 1857. when his father, the late e. W.
Ciabaush. moved his family TO Baltimore,
and then, in 1873 to Carroll county Mr.
CIseaugh was sent to the Pennsylvania
M rod Tod -, H.
lowing year he graduated in law from 4 he
University of Maryland He continu ed
reading law with MIR. Bernard Carter In
baltimore, and entered upon the practice
or MS profession in that city, but, on the
death OF his father, in 1888, he returned 10
Carroll county. Mr. Clablugh was a pron
nent republican in Maryland. He was a
delegate to the national convention in Chi
cago in 1854 which nominlted James q.
Blaine for the presidency. A year or two
later he was the NOMINEES for the state SEN
ate from Carroll county, but was defeated
by PinkRey j. Bennett. After the select on
of William j. Fannott as republican cand,-
date for governor in 1891, Mr. Clabaugh was
unanimously chosen chairman of the re-
publican state central committee of Mary
Hand. He was reelected and had an active
share In directing the movement of the
party leading up to the convention of 95,
at Which he was nominated for attorney
general. to which Office he was later elected.
He WAS in partnership in Baltimore with
George X. Gather, jr.. prominent lawyer.
I Chief Justice Ciabaugl holds The conn
dence of everybody who knows him. and is
a man of ability. candor and of the strict
est integrity. His original nomination for
the bench was well rec eived. He is popular
and the wisdom of President Mckinley in
selecting him TO succeed Justice MeComas
and that OF President Roosevelt in naming
him chief justice. is heartily commended on
all sides. At the time of his appointment to
the bench in 1850. Justice Clabaueh was
familiar with the practice of the courts of
TIE D.si rict of Columbia
Chief Justice Clabaugh is son-in-law of
! DR.. John A. Swope, first vice president of
the Washington Loan and Trust Company.
and 81 his wife is native Of this city, lie
was naturally closely associated with its in
terestS. and was as well known in social as
in legal circles here long before his appoint
inert TO the bench
The Next in Rank.
| Justice Barnard. who ranks next to Chief
Justice Clabaugh In length of service. IS
noted particularly for his observation-disclosures.
He il not easily swayed. and, a. II true OF