Albuquerque morning journal., 1910-11-10
Provides for Supreme Court Of
Three Justices Who Are to
Serve for a Term Of Eight
Years.
AM MENDMENTS OFFERED ARE
VOTED DOWN DEClSIVELY
Legislature Is Given Power
After Decennial United States
Census in 1920 10 Make Ger
tain Specified Changes.


Especial dispatch to the Morning Journaii
santa re. n. NJ. Nov 49, one ot
the most important articles of the
constitution of New Mexico was de-
creed upon at this afternoons session
of the convention This article pro
vides Tor the judiciary system for tae
now state. aud it was disposed OF
with decidedly less friction than has
attended the consideration OF the
many less important articles which
have preceded 1t.
As agreed upon, the article pro-
vides tor q supreme court of three
Justices. whc are to receive a salary
OF $4,000 annually and serve tor
term Of eight years, Provision is
made $50 that after the first election.
not more than one Justice shall he
elected In any one year. The legisla-
turc. after the census of 1920 rs
given the power 20 increase the num-
Der of Justices of the supreme court
To Give.
Eight judicial districts are pro-
vidod Tor, each 10 be presided over
by district Judge. who ip 20 receive
St, 500 annually and serve for term
OF six years,
lhf lftHNNi hAHEtn 90 DfbhifNt
courts is continued with tho pruW-
sion that Tho Legislature may NJ nny
time grant NE probate court In such
counties .ls desire ~ addod iuris,iic-
tiJn which Will teriY with u lllN
pnWer To- dispose Ot evil cases hvolV-
ing less tnnu $1,000 ma criminal
cases in which the penalty Is less
than imprisonment in the penltcn-
,iary or d line OF $1,000. This pro-
vision ia effect, empowers Tho legls-
latute tn create county courts. Pro-
vision Is also made tor The estahlisli-
ment Of Juvenile courts in counties on
municipalities,
The report Of the committee on in
dietary was taken up ut this after
Moons session. with solomon Luna
presiding as chairman OF the COM
mitteo of tho whole. Delegate lritch
introduced substitute for section
OF the report and was voted down, ~
to "a An amendment by Delegate
Compton. substituting county courts
for probate courts met the same fate.
MIR. Fitch made a lengthy argu-
ment in support of "a plan to elect
Judges at an election apart from that
for other state officers. MIR. Fitch
also insisted that Judges should be
nominated 10y petition instead Of by
the usual method of a political con-
vrntion He read a. newspaper article
containing an interview with Fred
erlck r. Coudcrt. In which that cn-
ineut NcW York attorney made some
rather harsh criticisms of New York
Judges in effect charging them with
purchasing theli seats on the bench
by means of huge campaign ooniri-
buttons.
Delegate Ferguson followed Mr.
D. al
tlon by petition MIR. Ferguson dee
cinrod himself Cor a shorter tcrm
than eight years Tor supreme court
Justices Mr. Ferguson was unpltcr-
ably opposed to having judiciary
involved I'M politics, and pleaded earn
eatly with the majority members OF
the couN entiou 10 accept the plan
proposed by his democratic colleague
lrom Socorro.
Delegate Catron opposed the propo-
sition 10 elect Judges apart from the
general elections In fact Mr. Catron
was opposed 60 electing judges al all
and believed much better class OF
men could hc obtained III the mem
befs 0f the supreme bench were app
pointed 10y the governor. Having re-
luctanuy agreed that the people
should Doc entrusted with the election
OF their Judges. Mr. Catron was con-
liuced thar they should bc entrusted
Co elect them at the same time and IN
the same manner Gs other state Off
GERS were elected.
Iu answer to the criticism OF the
length of the term of supreme jus
licos. Delegate Holloman said that ia
The judiciary committee Mr.. Fitch
had favored twelvc-ycar term FOR
these Officers This. MI Fitch ad-
mittcd. and declared that he still Ia
,orcd that length Of term. Mr.. hol-
Ioman further said that the prnposi-
iinn 10 make tho term eight years.
and originated with Mr. richardson
and that the republican members OF
the committee had az first proposed
.n mnke the term only four years. II
lfd hccu increased hc said. at the
suggestion of MI urice a democrat.
Delegate Wood defended the New
York judiciary from the attack con-
aimed Zoo thr newspaper article rcau
ly AIr. Fitch declaring that the
|uanes mentioned therein were not
NcW York state judges. hut wore
THmmanN judges iu New York CITY
or whom the democratic party was
.hsointtlV responsible. At this point
Delegate Richardson explained that
,is proposal in committee that judges
be- elected for eight years, had been
unie at the time the twelvc-year
erm WAS under consideration. Tie
VAS opposed 20 long terms FOR judges
.nd thought that a term of eight
ears WAS better than one Of twelve
.nd that on, 81 six was better than
irht. Mr. Richardson made seme