Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-30

and the states, and invested with per-
manency which makes it Independent or
changing public opinion. the Supreme
Court is in many respects the most pow
erful factor in the American political sys-
tenn and the greatest judicial organiza-
ton in the world. Receiving appointment
from the President, upon confirmation by
the Senate, the justices of the Supreme
Court pass beyond the power of either,
except under a process of Impeachment,
in which the House must act as grand
jury ami the Senate as the court of trial.
The judiciary of England is regarded as
the best example of the supremacy of
justice in Europe, but the highest Eng
lish occupant Of the bench must be re-
moved by the king upon the request of
parliament. A justice of the Supreme
Court of the Unita1 States can be re-
moved for no other cause than high
crimes and misdemeanors,' which have
never been charged against any justice
except Samuel Chase, who was impeach-
ed in 1904, but who was acquitted by the
Senate. His impeachment grew out of
political opinions held and expressed by
him. and did not involve the integrity of
the man.
An example of how a justice of the SUI
preme Court may continue in power. even
after the whole country has turned it's
back upon him, is afforded by the expert
ence of Chief Justice Roger B. fancy.
who handed down the bred Scott decision.
which. in effect. nationalized slavery.
fancy continued to act as Chief Justice
even through the administration Of Presi-
dent Lincoln. although he was disliked
by the northern people as only man can
be when he holds opinions against which
people are fighting a bitter war. AS
long as Charles Sumner continued in the
Senate of. the United States a bust of
fancy was refused its appropriate place
in the Supreme Court room.
Although the people have frequently
complained of decisions made by the SUI
preme Court and have called into ques-
ton it's judgment. its wisdom and its par
tisan bias. and although matters of such
moment that their ultimate Importance
could never be measured in dollars and
cents have been decided by a margin of
one vote, no one ever yet has called into
question the integrity of the men who
constitute the Supreme Court. Members
of the court in discussing the lack of
unanimity which sometimes characteriZes
its decisions assert that it cannot be eX-
pected that where popular and profess
sional opinion is so nearly divided upon
the questions involved. the justices, Sc
lected from different parties and from
remote sections of the Union. and shar-
ing all of the infirmities and prejudices
common to their fellow citizens should be
tional questions.
The Supreme Court holds its annual
sessions from October to June. with re-
cesses at Christmas and at Easter. and
at such other times the consideration
of cases which have been heard requires
it. When the court is in session its men,
bers go to the Capitol every day in the
week except Sunday. Five days are de-
voted to the handing down of opinions
and the hearings of cases, Saturday being
set aside as a consultation day. Opin-
ions are handed down on Mondays. The
court convenes at IL o'clock noon. Its
quarters are in the Capitol building, the
courtroom being across the hall from the
robing and consultation room, and Is
the room which was formerly the
Senate chamber of the United States.
Promptly upon the stroke of II passage
way across the corridor which leads from
the House to the Senate Is roped of with
silken cords, and the court, headed by the
Chief Justice and followed by the others
in the order of their appointment, marches
out of the robing rooms across the cor
everybody arises while the marshal an
nounces the court and the clerk calls out
his familiar "Oyez Oyez" and announces
that the court is now in session
and all persons having business before It
will draw near and give attention. The
justices sit at high desk. the Chief JUS
tice in the middle, and the others to his
right and left in the order of their APP
pOintment. Their robes nang In the ROD
ing room in the same order that they
march in. and they sit around the CONSUL
tation table in their chambers in the same
way.
The justices wear gowns of black silk
or like material. When the court was
organized the question arose as to how
its members should be dressed. Some
thought they should wear the mortar
board cap Of scholar. some the garb OF
a Roman senator, some the attire of a
priest and others the wig and the gown
of the English jurists. When Thomas JEFF
ferson expressed his opinion on the SUBJ
ject he exclaimed: For heavens sake dis
card the monstrous wig which makes the
English judges look like rats peeping
through punches of oakum.
Under the law the justices OF the
Supreme Court may retire at seventy.
However, unless overtaken by inhrmities