The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-07
LAWYERS STATE
THEIR POSITION
REGRET ACTION or GOVERNOR
AND MAYOR IN NATTER OF
COURT JTDGESHIP.
HALF OF MEMBERS SIGN
ADDRESS TO PUBLIC RECITEs
CUSTOM or LONG STANDING
AND SAYS SHOULD RYE
PRESERVED

Signed by one hundred and twenty
is made TO the public this morning
criticising the action of Governor
Mann in appointing Mayor p. c. Rich
ardson as judge of the Hastings court
to succeed Judge Witt without first
receiving recommendation from the
city bar and expressing regret that
Mayor Richardson should have seen
fit to receive the appointment under
the circumstances.
The paper ls conservative IN eN-
preston, but indicates that the local
attorneys will not give up their long
held privilegede Of practically ap~
pointing local judges without a struE-
gle The papers expression on this
point is rather vague, declaring that
r future governors foitow the pre-
cedent set by Governor Mann the
course 10 be pursued by the bar will
be "A matter of doubt
liar is Divided.
That A number of the lawyers favor
a radical course, others u do-nothing
policy and that others uphold the
governor is known.
OF the more than 200 members OF
the local bar the paper was signed by
40, or about half On this point
President f, H. c. Cabel says:
quite a large number of the mem
bers of the bar, as Is usual at this
season Of the year. are absent on their
vacations, and 1t is believed that these
gentlemen, together with Il number OF
other lawyers who have not yet seen
X. will sign it as soon as they have
an opportunity. to do so. Other mem
| bers of the bar. while approving OF
the plan of the bar in making rec
concentrations to the governor in the
matter Of appointing judges, have
preferred for personal reasons not to
sign this paper"
The Address to Public.
To the Public:
The undersigned. members of the
bar of Richmond. cannot ignore the
late action of the governor in the
appointment to fill the vacancy in
the judgeship of the Hastings court.
although we make no claim whatever
to a legal right to be consulted in
such action
In fact, at late meeting OF the
bar of this city. a resolution was pass
that the constitutional power TO MI
such vacancies is placed in the COVER
nor OF this state.
But the fact lis that ii has been a
| time honored custom for many years
that the bar OF this city should, when
! ever there Is vacancy in judge
I ship Of this city. meet. and by the
ma jority vote Of the bar. determine
what lawyer should be recommended
( to the governor, or to the Legislature
I IL in session. 10 fill such vacancy.
+ Not only has this been the custom
I with the bar, but never in any in
stance until within the last few day!
has such recommendation been ts
nored either by ex-governor or by tn,
/ legislature. And doubtless the legis'
I laiure, as Well as the preceding gov
/ ernors. had AS high sense of con
stitutional duty in regard to such &C
/ ton as the present governor. II
4 would he impudent to think other
1 wise.
! Such has been the recognition o
+ this custom. II only remains to dc
( termine the wisdom of such Gus
4 tom.
While there are many members o
/ the legal profession who believe tina
I The Judges should be elected by tn:
people. the fact is that under tn
present Constitution OF the Stat
+ Judges must he elected by the iegis
| CONTINUED on Sixth psgel