The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-05-30
THE NEW COURT
AND THE OLD ONE
The Imposing Judicial System Of the
States.

ONNSSo A)lSNA ~ OOAA III -fAoA AehAiN1
held in this city, was an event of
considerable interest to the people
of Western Maryland, it being the
first court of the kind held here or
anywhere else, except Baltimore
city.
A comprehensive sketch or
statement Of the Federal, or U. S.
Judicial system, might form inter-
esting and useful reading matter
for our people if given in a careful
and correct form. This, Twill ell
deavor to do. The constitution of
the United States, given us in
1887, by our forefathers, divides
our whole governmental, system
called Articles. The Judiciary be-
ing Article 5.
The first section provides: The
judicial power Of the United States
be vested in one Supreme Court
and in such inferior courts as the
Congress may from time to time
ordain, and establish. The
judges of the Supreme and inferior
courts, shall hold their Offices dur
ing good behavior and shall at
stated times receive for their SER
vices compensation which shall
not be diminished during their
continuance in office"
Under this article all our vast
national judicial system was estab-
lished by Congressional enact
ments. The first of the kind was
passed in 1889, at the very begin
ming of our national government,
Many acts on the same line follow
ed from time to time, such as cir
cumstances and our rapid develop
ment called for. The whole Judi
cial system or department was and
is divided into three divisions: l.,
the U. S. District Courts; ?, U. S.
Circuit Courts, and lastly, the Su-
preme Court Of the United States.
The powers, duties and jurisdic-
tions of all these courts are partic-
ularly defined by the Constitution
and the laws creating them. The
District Courts are the primary or
lowest in the scale. Each state in
the Union has at least one of these,
and some of the larger states two
or even more. Our good old State
which is one of the original IS,
forms one. Then follows the Circuit
Courts, 9 in all. A Circuit Court
is formed by number of contigu-
Gus district courts with one of the
judges ofthe Supreme Court as the
chief with the district judge as as
sociate. We belong to the fourth
circuit, which is composed of
Maryland, Virginia, West Vir-
ginia, North Carolina and South
Carolina.
The Supreme Court is just what
the name designates, the highest
law tribunal in this or any other
country. Its present membership
consists of nine judges with Mel
vim w. Fuller of Illinois as chief
since 1888. The associates are
are Harlan, Brewer, White, Peck
ham, McKenna, Holmes, Day and
Moody. The living retired JUS
tees are Shiras and Brown. The
first two chiefs were Jay and Els
worth, not much remembered.
John Marshall, the most distin-
guished of all, was appointed by
President Jefferson in 1901, and
served to his death in 1885, when
he died at the age of 50 years.
Then came Rodger B. fancy, of
our own State. He served till his
death in 1864, aged over 50 years.
Then followed S. P. Chase, of
Ohio. He served 9 years, to his
death in 1873. He was succeed
by Morris Waite, of the same
state, upon his death he was sue
ceeded by the present acceptable
chief in 1888. The ascent to
this exalted Office has three steps
or flights, the District Court, Cir
cult Court and Supreme Court.
Our national court system is a
vast and complicated one. 1t re-
u,,irac parcopc t1aor,aJ -, A.