The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-19

10 make a suggestion to change Che
entire method OF holding the district
trial courts in Oklahoma. This Is not
new, but was borrowed from the
state Of North Carolina, where this
law has been in force for more than
half century. Il is to provide that
the Judges, while resident Of given
districts Of the state, rotate and hold
court not more than once in any one
district, passing from one district 70
the next district and on until be has
made the entire rounds of the state
during his term Of office. and reuulr-
ing the court to devote continually
his time to the trial Of causes or the
work for which he was elected, and
permitting no court to hold more than
thirty days vacation IN any one year.
This method would not only correct
the evils just enumerated, but would
correct others. It would save the in
crease of Judges. Under this system
we would have now at least ten Judges
too many, as twenty judges could
try all the causes now requiring thr.
ty or more. Whereas. il you retaip
the old system you will continue to
have the larger cities oanroring to
every legislature for the creation OF
a Superior court" and costing the
state on an average OF five thousand
dollars each, with the condition Of a
congested docket in one district while
in another The judge can spend two
thirds Of his time fishing and hunt
Ing. II the Judges are compelled To
rotate so that no judge holds court
but once in any one district in each
year all the districts will be up with
their dockets or all be crowded at
once, and but short while win de-
monstrate under such trial the
number OF judges required to keep
up the litigation OF the state in each
and every district of the state, and
when we find ourselves with q sur.
Plus OF Judges we can eliminate them
by amendment to the statute abolish
ing their job The twenty-five Judges
created by the constitution were sut-
ficient to try every case In every trial
court OF Oklahoma il this system had
seen in vogue, The second legislature
created nine additional and an addi.
,ional expense of not less than forty
five thousand dollars annually. In its
extraordinary session II came near
creating more with clamor from other
cities for an additional superior court
This rotating system will take the
judge away from his home and there
by from his ward heeer In his cleo
tlon and send to that home q stran-
ger, who has neither friend 70 favor
nor foe 10 punish He Will not know
the politics OF the attorneys as the
other would for he Is there but one
term and gone 1t will do more, my
friends, the court will not have stay.
ed In one place sufficient length
OF time TO enable a deal to be made
between law breakers and the court,
and we shall have no more repetition
Of what occurred in Poitawatomle
and other counties OF the state, be-
cause in the very nature OF things a
judge holding but one term could not
enter into that agreement or receive
bribe for that purpose Of permit
ing a continuation of an unlawful act.
The condition behind the argument
OF this principle II reducing to min.
imum first judicial ravoritlsm to Ger.
tain attorneys, and second, political
punishment OF those attorneys who
hold TO different political belief, and
third. economy OF expenditure and
the method by which the number Of
trial judges we now have may be re-
duced. and thereby reducing ex.
penses, and last, but not
least breaking the chain OF con
nectlon between dishonest Judge
and horde of law yolators and
criminals that surround our larger
cities. If these reasons are not SUI.
flcient, then shall be glad to give
you more. ! repeat again provide in
that judicial system method whore
ny every judge shall change districts
until he has made the entire rounds
Of the state. holding court in each and
every one Of the districts Of the state
before he returns 10 the district Of his
residence; provide that judges shall
devote their time to the trial OF eaus
es and that they shall not under any
circumstances lose In the way OF va
cation more than thirty days in any
one year. Judges just as well work
as any other public officer. and n
you will pursue this system at the
end OF your years term It will bt
discovered that they may be reduced
to one third North Carolina, with
about the same population, with as
much civil business, although per
haps not as much criminal, has but
sixteen judges. although Oklahoma
has twice that number with a contln
nous camor for additional Superior
courts When VIII II stop. aud wher
viii the people be protected from the
graft OF increased public officials
Every lawyer in the land know.
this Is true, and also another thing
that hundreds Of disreputable law
yers. dishonest with the court. ant