Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-03-24
Circuit Judgeship.

No office within the gift of the peo-
pie is more important than Circuit
Judge. He is the CONSERVATION of
public good and the arbiter of
private rights; settling all questions
affecting the public, including adj
mlnistratiOn of the criminal law,
and all questions arising between
individuals. He should be pre-
eminent in knowledge of law, for
no one, however well disposed, can
determine the rights of the public,
or OF individual suitors, unless he
thoroughly knows what the law is.
His integrity is equally important,
for the suspicion of dishonesty in
one selected to decide questions in
volving public or private rights, is
intolerable. In addition to great
legal knowledge and answering
integrity, it is abso utely essential
that he possess the judicial temper
ament. This involves patience to
hear all that may be intelligently
said upon the question in hand; i'm
partiality and freedom from pre-
JUDGE in its consideration, and in
assigning to it the weight to which
it is justly entitled, and courage to
pronounce the Judgment thus in
diligently, honesty and patiently
reached, regardless of personal con-
siderations or consequences.
In addition to all this, judicial
courtesy is absolutely required 70
sustain the dignity, essential to in
spire the respect in which judicial
tribunals must he held in public
estimation. This requires that the
presumption and zeal of the care
less and perhaps unprincipled adj
vocate shall be checked, and that
the most careful attention should
be given to the suggestions of the
more conscientious and studlous
lawyer, though young and less ag-
gressive.
Twenty-four years ago, the bar
and the people of this circuit sought
out George Clementson of Lancas-
ter, as one endowed with these
qualifications, and though then a
young man and inexperienced,
elected him to the position. He
did not seek the Office The office
sought him. He then had a large
and lucrative law practice, and oc-
cupied position at the bar in pub |
lie esteem, second to no lawyer in |
the circuit. Possessing rare in
tellectual powers, thorough pro
fessional training, unquestioned IN
tegrity, untiring industry and
courteous and gentlemanly de-
he came to the bench. the
of Judge Cotbren, one of
the ablest and most popular judges
in the state, a most trying position
for a young and inexperienced
judge.
Judge Clementson has occupied
this exalted position ever since,
seeking rejection, but &C
cepting it with the assurance of
the bar and the people, that he had
discharged the duties of the office
we'll and accepta5ly.
Lawyers and litigants will be dis
appointed when defeated by the
courts. There is however, a right
and wrong side to every case, and
it is the duty of the courts to sustain
the rights and punish the wrong.
Judges are not infallible, and the
same obligation of courtesy and
Difference is due from the bar to the
judge, as from the Judge to the bar;
and the jealous, strenuous advocate,
whose conceit can assign no reason
for his defeat, except by assuming
prejudice or dishonesty on the part
Of the judge, is totally wanting in
that courtesy which must exist with
both bench and bar if our judicial
tribunals are to be respected.
In the estimation Of the people,
and OF the bar, Judge Clementson's
selection as circuit judge was not a
mistake. He has discharged his
duties well, and is universally
recognized as an excellent judge,
one of the very best in the state.
Besides being able in every sense
to which we have referred, he
possesses eminently the further
quality of expediting business, the
result of which is, that terms OF
court are shortened and their ex-
pense to the public LESSEN
In view of these conceded facts,
we submit that every elector in the
circuit should vote for Judge
Clementson'Trto 9ction this spring,
and as a rule we are assured they
will do so.