Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-11-15
In Memory Of Judge MCSherry.

Tributes to the memory of Judge James
McSherry were the feature Of the opening
of the November Term of the Circuit Court
here Monday morning. After the grand
jury had been drawn and charged and the
docket called over the committee, composed
of Messrs. Philip d. Laird, Robert B. Peter
and Thomas Dawson, appointed at recent
meeting Of the members Of the Bar to draft
suitable resolutions on the death Of Judge
McSherry, made their report through Mr..
Laird.
In seconding the motion Of Mr.. Laird
that the memorial be spread upon the min
utes OF the Court, Messrs. Hattersly W. Tai
bolt, Charles W. Prettyman, Rob't B. Peter
and B. F. Waters delivered brief eulogies,
dwelling especially upon Judge McSherry's
uniform kindness, consideration and cour-
tesy with which he treated all who came be-
fore him.
The exercises closed with beautiful trib-
ute by Judge James B. Henderson.
The following is the memorial adopted
The members OF the Bar of Montgomery
county desire to place upon record their APP
probation of James McSherry, late Chief
Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit and
Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals Of Mary
land, whose death brought sorrow to the
profession of which he was an ornament and
to the State which he served so we'll.
Considering the position he occupied at the
time of his death, Judge McSherry's life was
q singularly uneventful one. In youth he
chose his calling and applied his mind to
study in preparation for the serious affairs or
life. From the moment he came TO the Bar
his talents attracted attention, and from year
to year an increasing practice attested the
merit of the painstaking counsellor aud the
accomplished advocate. He sought no honors
The Establishments Of politics and the emolu-
ments Of public Office never lured him from
the life-work which he took up at the
threshold of manhood and pursued with
steady loyalty and devotion to the end.
At the age Of torty-four years he was elected
Chief Judge of his Circuit and became, under
the provisions of the Constitution of the
State, a member of the Court Of Appeals.
Nine years later, upon the death OF John
Mitchell Robinson, he was designated by the
Governor as Chief Judge Of the Court. Of
the eminent men who have filled that high
office he stood in the front sank, and he rose
to the position and held his leadership by the
force OF his native ability and his tireless in
dustry as lawyer and judge. But he brought
to the position something more than the dry
learning Of the law books. lnheriting fine
literary talents, and widely read In some
branches Of literature, he did not disiain to
adorn the terse conclusions Of the Court with
the graces Of style which made its solemn
opinions easy reading, while it detracted
nothing from their dignity and precision.
Under his presidency the COURT Of Appeals
was pre-emnently working body, and its
duty TO litgants and to the public was dis
charged with promptness and faithfulness,
with courtesy TO the Bar, and with that
ever present sense of responsibility which
wins and holds the confidence OF the people,
so essential to good order and so uplifting in
its effect upon the morals of the State.
In sense, the work Of the Judge is mainly
obscure. 1t rarely awakens the public at
tention until history, delving in It's records,
brings it to light. Then it is discovered that
OF all the departments of government. in our
English speaking world, the work OF the
Judiciary is the most enduring and the most
benehcent. 1t conserves the principles upon
which free Institutions are built; preserves the
self-respect and selt-reiance OF the citizen
holds men to their just obligations each TO
the other, and gives permanence to the con-
ditions under which civilization broadens the
activities and extends the influence OF the
commonwealth. In his lifetime the work of
Judge McSherry was recognized and valu ed
by the Bench and Bar of great nation. At
no distant day the great body Of l0ymen
will come TO understand that no judge served
them with loitier purposes or warmer zeal,
and that he deserves the crown OF their rev.
erent gratitude.