Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-11-09
WATERMAN SUPERIOR JUDGE.
Friends Hope for His Appointment I'M
der Proposed Judiciary Revision.

The friends of Judge EleaZer l.
Waterman Of Brattlcboro hope to sec
him made Judge of the superior court
of Vermont il such court is estab,
lished by the legislature. II is an
nounced that Judge Waterman will be
candidate for the position says the
local correspondent of the Springfield
Republican. The bill providing for a
superior court found its way into the
legislature last week, coming from the
Judiciary committee. II had been in
preparation n long time and was the
result Of deliberations on the part of
attorneys and bar associations in all
parts of the state, There appears to
be no doubt that the bill will become
a law, II provides for n reduction Of
the supreme court from seven to four
members and the creation of a superior
court of six members making "A total
of 10 judges instead Of seven, nj an an.
nual salary of $4,000 each.
Judge Waterman is a peculiarly well
fitted, both in temperament and legal
equipment TO become member of the
bench, and for some time has had an
ambition to hold such n position. He
is man of judicial bearing, and is one
of the best known lawyers in Vermont
His title of Judge" comes from his
position as judge of the probate court
Very likely il would be necessary for
him to move away from Brattleboro
in order to become a member of the
superior bench, also to make some other
sacrifices, but it is understood that he
is willing to do this. He announced
his willingness to do so not long ago
in connection with another matter.
From this point of view alone, Judge
Waterman s friends would prefer to
have him remain in his present position
but they would not be selfish enough to
let that consideration stand in the
way of his election to the bench.
With one Brattleboro man on the SUI
preme bench, another holding the office
of Judge of the United States district
court and another the Office of attorney
general, it is not probable that one of
the proposed new judgeships would
come to Brattleboro, the availability of
the judges and the convenience of the
lawyers in other parts of the state de-
manding that they be located else
where. Judge Waterman has good
practice in the United States court, is
Judge of probate and president of the
Brattleboro Savings bank. These ac-
tivities and their emoluments he would
have to lay aside to be elected to a
superior iudgeship. His election, too,
would mean the passing of the long
time law firm of Waterman q Martin,
now partially wiped out by the recent
appointment of j. l.. Martin as judge
of the United States court; firm
which lono has been a powerful factor
in Windham county affairs. Judge
Waterman was born in Jamaica, July
25 1899, and was son of Chandler
and Polly j. Waterman. He attended
Leland seminary in Townshend, and
after studying law with Butler and
Wheeler, was admitted to the bar of
Windham county at the September
term 1868. He located in Wilmington
and was sent to the legislature as rep
from that town in 1867
and 1868. Four years later he was
made state attorney for Windham
county, and in 1876 he was elected to
the state senate from this county. lie
was made chairman of the Senate judi
ciary committee. In 1870 he moved TO
Jamaica, coming from there to Brat
tleboro. In 1891 he was appointed
special United States attorney to APP
pear for the government in claims grow
ing ont of the civil war. He represent !
ed Brattleboro in the legislature in 1900
and was one of the leading members of
the House.