Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-13
COOKE IN
TALK ON COURTS
Delivers Interesting Lecture
Before Twin City Teach
ers' Club.
DESCRIBES THE PROCEDURE
Laws Bare the Methods by Which the
State Supreme Judges Arrive
at DECISIONS.

"The methods utilized by the SUI
creme court of Illinois in disposing Of
it's cases, although not ideal, are as
near to perfection as IS possible when
the vast number of cases which come
before that body is considered. Our
court very seldom has more than sew
en- or eight cases which have to go
over from one term to another, where
as courts in other states, notably Col
orado. Missouri and Ohio, are far be-
hind in their work. This was one Of
the statements made by Hon. George
A. Cooke of Aledo, Judge of the SUI
preme court of Illinois, when he ap-
peared before the Twin-Cjty School
masters club at the local high school
building yesterday afternoon to ad.
dress them on the workings Of the SUI
preme court.
METHODS FORMERLY SECRET.
The Judge first designated the lowey
courts and the cases over which the
supreme court had original jurisdiction
and those which must be appealed, as
well as methods used in pursuing suct
course. He then took up the actua
work Of the supreme body and said il
part:
Until recently, It was not deemed
advisable to bare the inner working.
of the supreme court, not even the bar
risters being cogniZant Of these meth
DDS. This gave rise TO the criticism
that the decisions handed down by tina
body were one-man decisions, becaus'
people misunderstood the matter. AM
for the good of all concerned it wa
thought better that all should know
and understand just how we arrive a
our conclusions.
I'VE will consider that a case ha
been appealed from the appellate court
This applies to those of the civil val
iety, as the supreme court has origina
jurisdiction in all criminal cases abov
the grade of a misdemeanor as well a
cases involving free hold, revenue O
a franchise. The records are the
turned over to the supreme court, il
Guiding all testimony, the exception
noted, etc, for the court to determin
whether further hearing be granted.
TWENTY CASES A DAY.
Our decision as to whether or nc
a case shall be given a rehearing j
determined from the records, althoug
if notice be given by the attorneys a
oral hearing may be granted The frs
, week and a half is devoted to petition
. for rehearing. After the docket
called, about twenty cases a day ar
, disposed of. When a case is argue
orally, the court retires and a tent;
tive vote is taken, and although thi
vote is not obligatory, it usually
final in rs per cent of the cases.
ASSIGNMENT OF CASES,
The court divides the cases anon
each of its members. assigning thel
, in the order submitted, by rotation
The members of the court do not kno
, what points are involved except whe
, a case has been argued orally Fac
member of the court is given the re
ord, abstract, briefs and arguments
the cases assigned to him, and all OF
, er members given everything with II
. exception of the record in the CASE
, not assigned him.
DECISIONS MADE AT HOME.
These papers are then shipped
the homes of the judges and are take
up by the individual justices, in orde
unless the case be a very importal
/ one. The judge prepares his opinio
which is mailed to the reporter of d
e clsions at Bloomington. This opinic
$ is set in type and a copy mailed
= each member. Each judge has all D