The San Francisco call., 1909-01-05
CAbANISS IS MADE
PRESIDING JUDGE
Unusual Care Will Be Used in
Selection of Trial and
Grand Jurors
Judge Van Nostrand Is Given
Flowers and Reception
by Friends

At the regular annual meeting or
superior judges held yesterday George
H. Cabaniss was elected presiding
Judge for the ensuing II months. The
honor was offered to Judge Mogan,
who, however, declined it in favor OF
Judge Cabaniss, saying he would pre-
fer to accept 1T in year nearer the
end of his six year term Judge Gra-
ham, who has presided during the last
two weeks, vacated the chair and gave
place to Judge Cabaniss, VINO occupied
it during the remainder OF the meeting.
A lengthy discussion took place rela-
tive to the selection OF trial and grand
jurors for 1909. In accordance with the
law requiring the number of jurors to
be designated. it was decided that the
names of 2,400 trial jurors and LA
grand jurors be placed in the respective
boxes.
The judges have evidently listened
to the criticism arising from the fact
that the character of the personnel of
the jury list selected a year ago was
not of the highest. In that list was
found the names of dead men, ex-con-
yicts, noncitizens and many men other
wise disqualified. The feeling of the
judges yesterday was that special care
should be exercised on this occasion
in the selection of citizens for jury
duty. Each Judge will suggest the
names of 200 citizens for the trial jury
box, making 2,400 in all. The prac-
tice heretofore has been for a GER
tain number of precinct voting regis
ters to be assigned to each judge, from
which he picks out the necessary num-
ber of names. 1t was suggested yes
terday that the Judges do not confine
themselves rigidly to particular dis
tricts. but exercise the right to seleed
names of men resident in any part of
the city who are known to be well
qualified for the duty of serving on
juries. This suggestion did not how
ever, meet with the approval of ALL
and 1T was left in abeyance. There is
to be meeting next Monday at which
the 144 names for grand jury duty will
be chosen, and on the Monday following
the judges will meet again to canvass
names for trial jury duty. The lists
must be made up before the end OF
January. 1t was estimated that an
amendment of the law might be pre-
sented to the legislature under which
the task of selecting jurors would no,
| be confined to January.
NEW GRAND JURY
! Presiding Judge Cabaniss SAID yes
| terday that very shortly after Monday
next he would, in accordance with the
wishes of the district attorney. take
! steps to impanel a new grand jury
! Judge Carroll Cook. whose term of
office expired at midnight Sunday, form
ally introduced Judge Cabaniss as his
/ successor in department IL yesterday
morning. There was a large attend
ance of attorneys and others, and re-
marks commendatory OF the retiring
and the incoming judges were made by
Assistant District Attorney Hanrey and
Attorneys It. c. West and Frank
Drew.
VAN NosTRAND GIVEN RECEPTION
Immense floral pieces enlivened the
prosaic courtroom of department 4
when Judge Van Nostrand took his seat
on the superior court bench for the
first time. A crowd of the new Judge
/ friends was present to give him a
send off. Attorneys Daniel Ryan and
j. j. Lermsn compHmented the Judge
on his election. Ryan referred to Van
Nostrand's record as a Judge of the JUS
tice court. and prophesied that he
would, after serving as superior
| Judge, be promoted TO a still higher
court. The Judge in brief response
expressed the hope that by his conduct
as superior Judge he would merit the
approval of the bar and the general
public
Judges Hunt, Dunno and Sturtevan nj
also begun their new terms of six years
yesterday.