The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-27
Ways of Procedure of
That Dignified
Body.
SHARP RULES FOR LAWYERS


No more imposing entrance of judi nal
body was over devised than that OF the
Chief Justice and tho eight Associate
Justices Of the Supreme Court into the
Supreme Court Chamber. a beautiful.
aemicircular hall with noble arched
ceiiing in ths centre of the Capitol build
ing Until the wings of ths Capitol
wers completed this hru was the Senate
Chamber and echoed IN the olden time
with the eloQuencc III Daniel Webster.
Henry Clay john Randolph and John
Tyler II il now slyrcd TO the Us. Of tn"
most august secular tribunal in the world
Across /; runs a long platform with niue
greet arnchAirs. that Of the Chief Justice
slightly differing from the rest. being IN
tn. middle Before IN" bench Is a wide.
rcd CTrpc;sd space tor the lawyers. and
beyond this are arranged around the semi
Circle rcd cushioned benches for specta
or Pohind the bench on which the
Justices sit H. . huge screen. or rcr.Cios,
with d door IN the middle
Everything IN tho han u -oberly stump
iuou- The atmosphere IL ore of
solsnnity. a. we'll Il may he. for in this
place OF dignity history of many kinds
has bc.n made More than fifty years ago
whom tho senate vacated 'hc hall for ;ha
new Scna.c Chamber I'm address was
made Ivy senator Breckenridge after
ward yiCc-Pre=iCicnt II the southern Con-
foderacy. which ranks among the national
classics
Four Chief justices have presided in
the hall: Chief Justice fancy. the only
Catholic Chief Justice in the roll: Chief
Justice salmon p Chase. said to bs the
handsomeS; man ever -eon upon the SUI
prens bench. and one Of the ablest;
Chief Justice Wave. who cam. To his
great Office a man li.tl. known. but who
f'n.d tho piece well and Chief Justice
Fuller. whose chair WIS lately drHpsi in
Grape
THE SOLEMN CHAMBER.
The Supreme Court chamber il as
hushel and noiseless as a cathedral.
Tho big leather covered doors swing
NJ heard upon their hinges Spectators
entering are required to move quietly
ard to refrain from whispering or opening
= book or q newspaper. To level an
C;,"rr glass at the bench. as some green
tourists have dared is a hanging crime.
All 20. the-r requirements are rigidly
enforced by "A band of attendants who
ar, only trifa less imposing than the
Justices themselves. No voice is raised
In IN" chamber except that Of the advo-
Gates IN pleading and an occasional ques-
tion from the bench. BY the doors stand
Official lynxes who watch sharply To see
that order and silence are maintained.
Al II o'clock when the court convsnes
the lawyers are IN waiting: to be n moment
late would be the objectionable sin.
There arc always spectators awaiting
the court. sometimes anxious clients with
tremendous interests involved. When
the court Ia ready to appear an official
advances and gives three laundering raps
which sound like the crack OF doom. and
proclaims:
The Supreme Court approaches
Al that all present rise. door IL opened
by another functionary and the long line
n Justices In their robes. headed by the
Chief Justice. is seen majestically crossin q
the corridors from their robing room
When they reach the wide doors. respect
nounces:
.Th. honorable the Chief Justice and
the Associate Justices Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States
The Justices. headed by the Chief
JhrVlrP. tNND tutFis kehH 'lt''
long screen. 50 thst four Of them may
~ IN ono side Of the Chief Justice and
four on the other. Their entrance and
place on the bench are strictly regulated
by seniority 81 service. The Chief Justice
enters from the door in the screen. held
open for him. All mount the bench and.
standing for n moment. bow ceremoni-
ousIy 10 the right and the left. to the
Ill
bowling in return. The Chief Justice
aaats himself. the other Justices then
take their seats. the spectators SIT and
the court crier proclairns:
The Supreme Court 81 the United
states II now in session
FvES LAWYERS CLOTHES REGULATED.
The etiquette Of lawyers in the presence
n ,he Supreme Court il very rigid. II
extends even 70 their clothes. Counsel
are eSpected 20 wear .frock coats with
black neclt les. and N one should dare to
noppnr in a sack suit in THAI open red
rarret Cd space facing IN" min" Justices
he world be tapped on the arm by "A court
officer and r,ithl"-slv told 20 Go home and
dress himself properly. som" time ago
q Western lawyer appeared before IN"
cour without a cravai He was promptly
notified that the court declined to hear
what he had 20 say until he was property
CARRIED.
T. waS a joke among the lawyers IN
Wellington when few years ago a
graa- legal light happened to be in the
cnurr room whom suddenly "A motion was
..lled 10 which h" was Obliged 10 answer
lie had on pnngee suit. and there was "A
grin IN the faces Of his fellow lawyers
A. his preciicamcnt lie came forward.
however. stat ed the cirCuInst ances 10 IN"
cour-. hurnbIy apologize'l for his clothes
end was gracIo,isly allowed 10 proceed.
N1s only rnust lawyers n" par ocular
about their clio; hes hut they must he care
frl IN their language before fhes. min"
solemn Justices. the ris'l" Of whose silk Ell
gowns ~ she only sound that breaks the
impressive silence ~ the court room
except me decoTo'Is procedure ~ business
There n a story of a certain great lawyer
whose argument was considered a. soInp-
what in 'hn nature NJ m instruction ~
the court The Chief .Iuf' icn in'"rrrI ~ -
Kim coolly ~ remark.
ssNr :, a nerferf lv safe IN aaattn1e a a.