The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-17
HE federal Judiciary in Ala
 bama has an interesting his-

HE federal Judiciary in Ala
 bama has an interesting his-
 tory. Ten judges have been commissioned, but only eight have pre- eided and exercised the duties of office. ono appcfntee declined to serve. and another. appointed by the Federal gov- ernment during the existence of the confederacy. did not exercise the func- 4iona of the position. In 1886 provis- Ion was made by Congress for two Judges
 ir the brief limits of this paper only < [ bars. general outline can be given with short sketches of the judges. The facts herein given have been gleaned from documents and the United States 2 etAtutes at large.
 Alabama came into the Union by reeo1ution of December 14, 1919. As Q territory it had no Federal courts. as organised and provided in the States. Z Con9ress, therefore, on April 21. 1s2e. established a district court, and ex- tended over the new Alabama judicial district all laws of the United States. not locally inapplicable. The judge was to have and exercise the same Ju- risdiction and powers as were confer rcd on the judge of the Kentucky dis trfct. Provision was made for the ap- pointment, not only of a judge, but also of an attorney. clerk and mar shal. Four terms of the court yearly were to be held alternately in the towns of Mobile and Cahaba, begin ming with the former.
 On May 20, 1920, Charles Tait was commissioned first Federal District Judge, and William Crawford first Dis trict Attorney. David Files, on May 1s, 1s2o, had been commissioned as marshall
 Congress, on March 10. 1924. altered the existing arrangement and divided Alabama into the Northern and South ern Districts. The incumbent attof- ney and clerk were each restricted to the Southern District, but the courts in each district were to be held by the same judge. Terms for the Southern District were to be held in Mobile and Cahaba, and for the Northern in Hunts ville. New officers were required for the Northern District, and Frank Jones, formerly a member of the Tennessee Legislature, was named as District Att torney. May IT. 1924.
 Mir. Crawford's term being about to expire. on January 20. 1824. he was re- appointed District Attorney. He re- . signed in 1895, and on November 1 of the same year Henry Hitchcock was commissioned as his successor.
 In 1926 the State capitol was re- moved from Cahaba to Tuscaloosa, and May 9. an act of Congress was passed providing for clearing up the docket at the former place. and Mobile became the only place for holding courts in the Southern District. On May 5, 1880, a marshal for the Northern District was provided. one marshal previously serv- ing both districts. Various acts of Congress were passed from time to time arranging and altering the dates for the holding of courts.
 Pfelens Declined once.
 Judge Tait resigned in 1926. Tho President appointed Senator Israel Pickens to the vacancy, and he was commissioned March g. 1926. but de- clined to serve. William Crawford, who had resigned as District Attorney the previous year, was then named, and on May 22, 1926, he was commis- sioned. He continded in office until his death in Is4s.
 State Capital in 1926. it was not until February 6. 1888. that provision was made by Congress for Federal Courts there. On this date there was a re-, organization of the District courts, the Northern, Middle and Southern Dis tricts being created, courts to be held respectively Tn Huntsville, Tuscaloosa
 In is46 the State Capitol was re- moved to Montgomery from Tusca- 1o0sa. Two years later, August z, 184s, the former place was fixed by law as the place for holding courts in the Mid die District.
 To succeed Judge Crawford, on March IS. 1S49, John Gayle was appointed. He served until his death ten years later. The next appointee was William Giles Jones, temporarily commissioned Sep- xember 2s. 1859. and permanently com missioned January 30. 1860.
 The formation of the Confederate States, 1861, led to the resignation of Judge Jones. and to his reappointmenr as Confederate District Judge by Pres- i1dent Jefferson Davis. During the war courts were held by him in Huntsville, Montgomery and Mobile. In the last named place the old docket recites that the first term was held April Is, 1861. The date of the last entry of this court was April 6, 1865.
 Acting as if there had been no seces- @ion. President Lincoln appointed George W. Lane of Madison County, District Judge, March 2S. 1861. MT. Lane was a lawyer. had long served on the State Circuit Court bench, and was . strong Unionist. He never per formed any service under his Federal appointment. He died in 1863. Pres ident Lincoln, still disregarding the situation of the State, appointed Rich ard Busteed to succeed Judge Lanes Mo- vembek IT. 1883, and on January 20, 1884, he received his permanent com mission. Judge Busteed exercised none of the duties of the ofiice> until 1885, when, after the close of hostili- ties, he tame to the State and assumed the position. It is said that he was regularlsl paid, however, from 1863. He was p0oily equipped for the high officc, and was guilty of many irregularities. In 1874 his impeachment was threat ened, and he was removed shortly af- terward.
 February 27, 1875. John Bruce was commissioned, and served until his death in 1901. To the vacancy thereby caused, Thomas Goode Jones, was ap- pointed, October '. 1901; and on De- cenber 1T, 1901, his appointment was confirmed by the Senate.
 By act of Congress, August 2. 1888, the Southern District was given sep arate judge. and Harry Toulmin was named as the first incumbent of the new place. He was commissioned Jan nary 13, 1887, and took the oath of ot- flee on the 31st of the same month. He is now in once.
 The Southern Division of the North arn District was created May ?, lSS4' and provision made for courts In BIT mingham.
 The Eastern Division of the Northern District was established February io' Iaoa. and Anniston was named as the ,nlace for holding court therein.
 rvs act of Congress March 5; lSoo, -. .reated the Northern Division or < .,'n eso,,thern District. courts to be heid a ssfyS,a and the Western Division or at Ss-.sHarr District, courts to be held