Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-12-11
JUDGE v. /. POPE
IS RE.APP0|NTED
President Send S
His Name to
Senate
HAS EXCELLENT RECORD
Youngest Justice on New
Mexico Supreme Bench
IAN Eminent Lawyer.
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at the age OF th1rty-three Is a diStinc-
ton seldom conferred even upon the
most brilliant member of the Bar. But
this distinction came to Judge Will
lam H. Pope in the fall of 1903 and
today, the Daily New Mexican is
pleased to record he has ben reap
pointed by President Roosevelt as a
recognition of the ability and up
rightness with which he has filled a
very difficult position. Judge Pope did
not come to the federal bench with
out ample experience as lawyer and
as an official. Shortly after arrival
in Santa Fe from his home state of
Georgia, he served as assistant at
torney general Of the Territory. In
1895 he was appointed a member Of
the commission to rebuild the Capt.
tol Of New Mexico, commission,
which the New Mexican is proud to
say, built one of the most beautiful
capitols to be found in the capital of
any commonwealth, at cost so small
that in itself 1t proves that the trust
was most faithfully and honestly ad-
ministered. Judge Pope served on
the commission as one Of its most en-
ergetic members until 1900, when the
capitol was completed and dedicated
In the meanwhile, In 1896, he was ap-
pointed by the Attorney General OF
the United States, special assistant U.
s. attorney for the Court Of Private
Land Claims, position for which he
was peculiarly fitted by temperament
and execution and as local practlc-
ing attorney. He was most thorough
in the legal research necessitated by
the trial of causes in this most unique
court and some of the arguments pre-
sented by him and briefs written, are
monuments to his learning. He held
this position until June, 1902 when he
resigned in order to accept the ap-
pointment of Judge Of the Court OF
the First Instance in the Philippine
Islands. At the same time he resign
ed as U. S. attorney for the Pueblo
Indians in which position he had serv.
ed for more than a year having made
study of the customs and peculiari-
ties of his legal wards that won him
their confidence and esteem. AS
Judge of the Court of the First In
stance in the Philippines, Judge Pope
had to do pioneer work, solve legal
problems peculiar to the people OF
the islands and set precedents that
were momentous in their consequent
ces and helped much to restore order
in those islands. Hon. William H.
Taft, then governor Of the islands,
learned to appreciate the services OF
the young judge very much and It
was with great reluctance that Judge
Pope's resignation, forced by reasons
Of health, was accepted In June, 1913
A few months laNer he was appoint
ed to the New Mexico Supreme bench
by President Roosevelt and was as
signed as district Judge to the Fifth
judicial district, with headquarters at
Roswell, Republican Judge in the
only Democratic judicial district OF
the Territory and at the same time
one of the most rapidly growing and
with the largest amount of work In
the courts. There he has won for
himself the name Of an upright, con-
scientious and firm judge who loves
righteousness for its own sake and
who cannot be swerved from the path
Of duty by any consideration whatever.
AS stated above, Judge Pope Is a
native Of Georgia, a son OF dlstln'
guished parentage. He there receiv-
cd his education and after graduating
from the University Of Georgia, en-
tered the law Office of Hon. Hoke
Smith. at Atlanta, secretary OF the
interior under President Cleveland,
and now the governor OF Georgia.
Though scarcely more than twenty
years old he was taken into partner,
shin by this distinguished firm, but
i'll health compelled him to seek the
climate Of New Mexico which quick
" restored him, however. Before re-
suning the practice Of law he worked
on the editorial staff Of the New
Mexican for a while. His terse, clear
newspaper style Of writing gained by
this experience, comes him to good
stead even at this day in writing MS
an,,,ors ana which makes them inter-