Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-24
LIGHTS LETTER.
Common Pleas Court Judge Says a Few Things to
 Governor Roberts.

Souln NOrWalk, March 24.-A le.. ter written by Judge John II. Light. of the Fairfield county common pleas court, to Governor Roberts on March IS, relative to a report current at that time that he was to be retired from the bench, was made public to-day. In the letter Judge Light said that in response to numerous inquiries as to the cause of his retirement he hal answered that the governor had not made known his reasons. Continuing, the letter says: Ut may not make much difference to me whether I am retired or not, but it may make d great difference to the independence of the Judiciary and lead one to ask whether or not judicial offices belong to you to bestoW as favor to a friend or to give as payment for po- htlcal services, irrespective of the wishes of the public. You will call 10 mind that nearly all of the members of the bench and the bar of Fairfield county have heartily endorsed me for re-appointment and very representa- tive committee waited upon you on behalf of the petitioners and urged my appointment, and their efforts were followed and supplemented by nearly all of the republican senators and representatives from the county and by leading members of the bar and public men from different parts Of the state, and yet, according to ru- nor. you propose to tell all of these gentlemen, and fellow citizens, thai their wishes do not count for any thing under this administration, and that your election vested in you the right to fill all judicial and other Of hces as you see fit, free from all claims of individuals and the public,
 You will remember that I called on you about month ago to talk over my re-appointment and that you then told me that there was no other candidate known to you and that you knew of no opposition, but that you did not mean to send in any more ap- pointments immediately and that I need not think it strange if my name was not. sent in at once. I am in- formed that even before this conver, satlon you offered my judicial place to another who was urging you to ap- point me. saying you had a letter in your pocket that I had written dur Ing the campaign for the gubernator- lal nomination in favor of Judge Cleaveland and that you did nOt owe me anything. now request you to publish that letter and state wherein It applies to you directly or indirect ly and that you let the public know whether or not you should use ap- polntmentS to judicial offices for the purpose of paying men to whom you are indebted. Did you not mean what you so well expressed about the In- dependence of the judiciary in yOur message! Let me call your attention 10 two of your sentences: 'Anything mat many way detracts from the in dependence of. or respect for. our Judges. should be Obviated if possi- ble T. recommend such legislation as will place upon the executive the responsibility of nominating all judges of the police. city. town and borough courts as is now done in the ease of the judges of the superior court. courts of common plea and dis trict courts
 surely you write like q statesman. but l am fearful that your actions Will not tally with your words. nave for years agreed with the senti- ment of your message and in 1901 assisted in placing by law the com mon pleas judges on the same foot Ing with the superior court judges so Tar as nominations are concerned and the purpose of the law was to remove me appointment of our common pleas lud ges above political influence and make them independent.
 "If that law had not been passed there would now be no question about my re-appointment so you are likel, To furnish concrete example of tb. danger of placing too much power in the hands of the governor to use fin promote his political fortunes"
 In conclusion Judge Light soid That he had heard that the governor Was expected to nominate Stote ireastlrer Walsh. and added. aside from the impropriety of appoiptiny one or the state officers to T iudiciaI position. 1t is strange for you to nom. mate man who is himself a staunch advocate of my appointment.
 Judge Light then asked Gorerpor Roberts to state why he refused bin q re-nomination.