The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13
DISCUSS PLAN FOR
ELECTING JUDGES
Large Gathering at Common
wealth Club Considers
Change of System
William Denman Explains q
Scheme to Choose judiciary
Free From Affiliations

At a luncheon of the Commonwealth
club at the Hotel Stuart yesterday aft
ernoon, William Denman, a local at
torney. explained in detail his plan
Tor elecung judges that would not be
pound by party Affiliations. More than
90 members responded TO the postcard
sent out announcing the subject to be
discussed The room which had been
engaged was found to be too small
many having TO stand throughout the
discussion. The active interest in the
topic was further indicated by the
numerous suggestions offered as to de-
tails In working out the scheme.
Denman sketched his plan in the
rough. describing the main features,
which provide for the elimination of
the blind partisan vote for q judicial
candidate. permits the intelligent selec-
ton based on judicial qualifications.
and frees the judges from boss con-
troll. The present illogical straight
party ticket voting, Denman said, while
proper for legislative and executive
candidates. is absurd in the case OF a
Judge, who should be left free and IN
trammeled and be able to try cases
according to facts and evidence alone.
ONE WRITER OPPOSES PLAN
Denman said that out of 12e letters
which had been sent to him in regard
TO the plan there had been only one of
the writers who had not expressed
himself as being opposed TO the pres
ent system and anxious for reform.
The single protest TO Denman's plan
was from Grove /. Johnson, who had
written: i believe a judge responsible
TO a convention in the same way as a
coroner" Judge Gilbert, presiding
justice OF the United States court of
appeals; Chief Justice Beatty and many
federal and state judges were quoted
by Denman as favoring his plan. Be
sides this the Los Angeles bar associa-
ton had taken up the matter, he said.
and the general feeling is in favor of
the plan.
The scheme provides for the placing
Of all judicial candidates names on the
ballot in the first column without party
designation. The judges may be nomi-
mated as they are now. or by a petition
! signed by per cent OF the voters. Any
Judge. Denmam thought, who had prop
erly served his four or six years should
find no difficulty IN obtaining, without
personal degradation. the signatures
OF per cent of the voters, and thus
be placed upon the ticket on an equal
footing with the nominee OF party.
SUGGESTIONS OFFERED
Many members OF the club spoke
upon details of the plans, all offering
suggestions as to the practical details
of nomination and election Some
thought that plans should be provided
for the preliminary Sitting of judicial
candidates at the direct primary cleo
ton, so that only limited number OF
names voted on at the primary would
be placed upon the ballot. Denman
thought that detail should be taken
up by the primary law people and the
proper method suggested as to the
form IN which the ballot should be
printed. His own idea as to nomina-
tions was that the nominations should
be made by direct primary, petition
or party convention. the Judges name
TO appear without designation of any
kind.
The next meeting of the club will be
devoted to the consideration of means
by which an auditorium can be erected
IN this city, and Charles E. Naylor will
describe a plan which he has evolved
for this important project