The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-12
ADDRESS TO
YOUNG LAWYERS
By Judge Burpee in Admit
ting Them to the Bar

Judge Lucien F. Burpee in the Su-
perior court at Hartford, Tuesday.
made an address to the candidates
for admission to the bar who passed
successful examinations. It is the
first time that judge of the court
under the new rule passed by the
Judges when they had their annual
meeting last June. Judge Burpee
spoke to them on the ethics of the
profession, saying:
Gentlemen:-No person may be adj
mitted to practice law in this state
except in the manner provided by
rules adopted by the judges of the SUI
periOr court. In conformity there
with, it has been certified to the clerk
of this court that you have satisfac-
torily passed the required examina-
tions, and you now present yourselves
for admission as attorneys to this ses-
sion of this court in this county.
Those rules further require that /, as
presiding judge at this session. adj
dress you respecting your duties and
responsibilities as attorneys. ] re-
joice to say that hereafter all appli-
cants for admission to the bar of Con-
necticut will have to pass an examin-
alton upon such subjects, based upon
the oath, prescribed by the statutes
of the state. and the declaration con-
corning professional ethics adopted by
the State Bar Association at it's last
melting. For that oath and that
declaration, gentlemen, in plain and
forciple language define and express
the principles that must animate and
govern the conduct of all members of
this bar.
Moral principles are binding on AN
men, but there are some that are eS-
pecially binding on the lawyer in the
practice of his profession, not only
because they are moral obligations
but particularly because their observ-
ance is essential to the existence of
his profession. For him, those eS-
sential principles are contained in the
laws of truth and fidelity. If in his
professional conduct he disregards
these laws, the lawyer commits an Of
Tense whereby he forfeits the rights
and privileges of his profession.
In Connecticut for more than two
centuries the lawyer has been recog-
nized as ''a servant of justice and an
ordained by the General Court and
s'the authority thereof" that no per-
son should be admitted as an attor-
ney to the bar without being first
approved by the court, nor until he
should take in said court an oath.
which in form then prescribed and
yet unchanged after these many
years, will be administered to you to-
day. Lest its full significance be
overlooked or unnoticed, I will read
II TO you now.
You solemly swear, that you will
do no falsehood, nor consent to any
to be done in court, and if you know
of any to be done, you will give
information thereof to the judges, or
one of them, that it may be reform
ed; you will not Willingly or willingly
promote, sue, or cause to be sued,
any false or unlawful suit, or give aid
or consent, to the same; you will de-
lay no man for lucre or malice; but
will exercise the office of attorney,
within the court wherein you may
practice, according to the best of
your learning and discretion, and with
fidelity, as we'll to the court as to
your client"
Herein are stated the fundamental
principles upon which the efficient
administration of Justice rests and is
maintained. The lawyer is an Off
Ger of the court, with duties and OBJ
legations which cannot be performed
and exercised without obedience to
the laws of truth and fidelity. Out of
this obligation have arisen certain
recognized rules of professional ethics
which have been adopted by the AM
erican Bar Association and recently
by the Bar Association of this state
To that declaration you should give
careful attention and study. There
you will find fully and clearly stated
the duties and obligations of a law
yer which you are about to assume
and must ever faithfully observe.
By these rules must always be reg
ulated your conduct in court, in your
office, and in your relations to your
clients to each other, and to the pub
lie Disregard of these rules will in
capacitate lawyer for the office he
holds, and will be justly punished by
suspension or disbarment. Whatever
degree of success, wealth and ad-
vancement he may attain, the law
yer will find his highest honor in a
deserved reputation for fidelity to pri-
vate trust and to public duty, as an
honest man and as patriotic and
loyal citizen"
These things have been said before,
in substance and phrase, and in them
is nothing new. From the time of
earliest English legislation, these
principles have been recognized and