The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-13
LOWER COURT JUDGES.

ana state,
-
LOWER COURT JUDGES.
The expedition which marked the
course of the Crippen trial has afford
ed the text for thousand editorial
comments on the superiority OF English
justice and it's methods over those
which obtain In this country. Within
four days this famous criminal was
tried and sentenced In England, while
IL he had been tried here 1t might have
been matter of as many years.
Judge John D. Lawson, dean of the
law school of the Missouri State Uni
versity. has Just returned from Eng
land For many months he has been
in that country making an extended
study of the criminal procedure in it's
courts. He has personally attended
these courts and has observed their
working carefully and critically. Judge
Lawson's study has convinced him that
our courts are century behind those
of England, SO far as criminal proced-
, ure is concerned. The expedition which
characterizes the conduct of trials in
ain English court was astonishing to
him. and he says that American Drac-
tees leading to interminablc delays
and repeated postponements of cases
are not known and would not be par
mitted If attempted" He further notes
that Judges of the English courts are
| men of the highest type and are well
paid" Jurists who occupy positions
similar to those of our Circuit judges
receive salary of from $4,000 TO
$4,000 the year. Members Of the NUM-
cipal bench dealing with minor GRIM
| $500. positions on the bench In Eng
land give social prestige, and they are
priced by some of the best legal mino
in the country.
| In these very facts are to be found
| the reasons for the superior efficiency
| of the English courts over those of the
United states. The position of circuit
| judge here is not looked upon with half
| the respect that attaches to the office
of Judge of an insignificant munI-
cipal court in England, and 1t Is COR
respondingly less sought by that type
of men found on the English circuits.
| Rare. indeed, is the instance In the
United States where political influence
is not the controlling factor in the
claims of the average circuit Judge to
his position. In establishing his COM
| pensation and in making provision for
| the maintenance OF his court the Legis-
lature assumes always that he IS a
| person OF not very great Importance.
BY every subtle influence which the
bar and the public and the higher
| courts can bring to bear, he Is made
to feel that all he says and does is
subject to the superior judgment of
/ the higher court Little account is
taken of the fact that in the necessi-
ties and demands of his daily work
and keener and quicker perception
4 of legal questions than are required by
his more respected and more carefully
chosen superiors Of the appellate bench
He Is repeatedly made to feel that he
occupies an inferior position.
In other words. In the United States,
as rule we do not make the re-
Enumeration of the lower bench such
that the best type OF lawyers can as
pire to 1t, and the minimum of dignity
which is accorded to Judges OF these
courts fails to appeal to men who
otherwise might be tempted to seek to
I'LL the judicial office. In our system
the Judge and the law are equally re-
sponsible for the slow and unjusti-
! fable criminal procedure.