The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-06-30
Communication
iltor Of The Heraid-Repu biican:

Editor Of The Herald-Repu blican.
am not personally acquainted with
the author OF the editorial which ap-
peared In your paper on last sunday.
on the subject OF judges nor do l AFRO
gate 10 myself the ability to give It the
favorable comment OF consideration to
which 7 consider IL entitled. But i
want to express to you my hedrtiest
therein expressed. IL is pioneer err
ticle ia the direction OF the most needed
reform Of our system OF government
hvs1y otner Pu4iiS oiiiSla,, si<giePS
in the press and by people generally,
and thereby they feel the direct rcspOn-
sibility to the people which they should.
But for some reason judges are con-
sidered immune from all criticism. AMI
for that reason they do not feel the
sense OF responsibility they owe TO the
people. No one would be 50 stupid as
q say that a Judge Is any more honest
or conscientious by reason OF the po-
siticr he holds than he would be II ne
heid some other office.
A Few years ago man lost his ire
In a railroad accident. The widow
brought suit against the company and
recovered a Judgment for $4,000. Inc
railroad company appealed. the case
was argued in the supreme court and
taken under Amusement. About two
weeks after this the local attorney OF
the railroad company received letter
from the head office in san Francisco
enclosing a letter from one Of the
judges OF the supreme court asking for
transportation for himself, family and
friends TO San Francisco, thence TO
Portland and return TO Salt Lake. The
transportation was worth approximate
~ $500 The local attorney for the rail-
road company showed the letter to
brother attorney for another railroad
company. This gentleman had courage
and integrity and Immediately advised
that he recommend that the transport
tation be not allowed, but the local
attorney said n I turn this down / VIII
be very apt TO lose my case In the su-
prernc court The reply was, II you
think 50. you should certainly refuse
itff However the local attorney know
ing the good effect. recommended that
the transportation be given. 1t was
duly received by the Judge.
His friends and family spent their
summer vacation in san Francisco
Portland and Seattle. returned TO salt
Lake. and in three OF four weeks after
ne returned. this identical Judge wrote
the opinion in the case. reversed u and
announced certain propositions OF law
covering the case. which made II i'm
possible for the widow to recover In
new action.
Now. II may be that the decision was
according TO law. IL may be that some
other Judge would have written the
same opinion. but you could not con
vince the widow and her children that
she had received justice at the hands
Of such court
There are many other cases where
the consideration or outside influence is
presumably a great deal stronger. II
these matters were freely discussed and
Judges knew that they were being held
to account for their actions. the peo-
pie would have more confidence In the
courts.
Moreover. there Is another Wow. In
the first place a Judge must be man
learned" in the law. that Is a technical
legal requirement and II complied with
by the holding OF certificate Of adj
mission to the bar. easy to obtain and
Of but little significance as to the
knowledge that the holder OF this GER
tificato possesses.
Now suppose a lawyer by name.
finds that he cannot make a living In
the practice OF the law. in fact resorts
20 various other occupations, and re-
port. should conceive the idea that he
should be elected Judge He is the very
man who would get the support Of the
Interests" He would likewise get the
support Of the politician and that class
OF people who expect something from
the courts. because they know that be
viii TO large extent consider the po-
litical Influence OF the attorneys and
litiEants. and such man Is ever ready
and willing to cater TO public sent-
merit and disregard the rights Of those
who are not so fortunate as to yield
political Influences. and realizing that
the press and the public do not cali
his motives into question, he arrogates
20 himself a superiority in intelligence
and honesty TO which he is By no means
entitled.
Taking IT all in all. in my Judgment
the judicial department OF our govern
ment in its system and practice needs
reforming about as badly as the liquor
traffic
You will pardon me for my remarks
at length. but I consider your position
the most fearless, courageous and
praisewOrthy one that could be taken.
GEORGE W. MoYER.