The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-08-31
THE SUPREME COURT OF ILLINOIS
AND IT'S METHOD OF WORK.

Edward Nichols Pugh in the present
contest for associate justice of the
supreme court has been raised in
other states, and the issue met and
solved, is shown by a series of
articles published in the Chicago Legal
News wherein are set forth by the
members of the supreme court of II
linois the methods used by that court
in reaching decisions.
Justice Orrin N. Carter upon the
subject says:
THE members Of the supreme court
Of Illinois are DESTROYS of adopting
the best methods Of work. Their rep
utations for all time to come will
rest upon the opinions written. No
matter how great the quantity of work
done, if poor in quality the reputa-
ton of the court necessarily suffers.
The members of that court believe
that under the present method of work
there is as little danger of one-man
opinions as there is under the
method or plan in vogue in any other
state in the Union. They believe fur
Their that their plan OF work, under
which the opinions are printed and
copies given to every judge to be.
examined and looked over in con
nection with the briefs and alb.
stracts, tends to make the final
opinion that of all the court more
than would result if they followed the
usual plan of other courts; that is,
to have a typewriter copy of the
opinion read in conference by the
authorize listening to its reading
being the only opportunity the other
judges have to learn its contents.
Every judge Of the supreme
court is DESTROYS of having the law
yers understand their methods OF
work and are more than willing to
receive suggestions as to change in
rules Of procedure.
Chief Justice Vickers in discussing
the same subject said
The method of considering opin-
ions is as follows: Commencing
with the junior member of the court,
his first opinion is taken up. Each
member OF the court has a printed
copy of all the opinions. Each mem
Der Of the court examines his print
ed copy Of the opinion together with
the notes he has made with refer
ence to lit. An unlimited time is al
lowed for each member of the con-
ference to express his views and ar
que for or against the opinion. If
necessary, authorities are brought in
n -, +3,o O.
merits of the opinion are open for
full and free discussion. The effect
of such discussion is usually to put
the writer of the opinion on the de-
fensiVe while the other members of
the court are attacking it,. After all,
have expressed their views and there
is no further discussion, the chief
justice calls the roll, commencing
With the junior member Of the
court and ending with himself and
records the vote ID the conference
docket. Every member Of the court
understands fully what the opinion
is He knows what the questions are
and how they are decided, and casts.
his vote according to his own view. :
Mr.. Justice Cartwright Of the same
court, in commenting on the old sys-
tenn in vogue in Illinois, said:
Each one of the judges would read
three of his opinions in turn and
soon some judge would be asleep or
paying no attention Another thing
/ found was that when a point would
attract my attention as doubtful, /
would think about it and not listen
to what was read afterWard for a
time, SO that | was missing some
thing else"
Thus will it be seen that the com
ments made by Edward Nichols
Pugh regarding the state supreme
court have been made regarding the:
highest court of Illinois. The justice.
of the complaint has been recog-
nized by the members Of that court
and they have with refreshing
frankness taken the public into
their confidence and set forth in
detail the methods they pursue in
reaching decisions.
ILilo SctiApcl1SA uIctWS5 " d S1OSC,
too much cannot be said in com
nendation of the stand Mr.. =Pugh has
taken in directing public attention
to the system which now prevails in
the supreme court. He has shown
himself to be specially fitted for the
duties of an associate jus
tice Of the supreme court His en-
tire lifeWork linked with the study
of the law, Edward Nichols Pugh
stands prepared to undertake what
President Taft has rightly termed "a
labor of love- and his whole career
stamps him as a judge who will zap
proach every question for decision
with Indifference to every considera-
ton except to reach a right and
just conclusion .
[ afourche Board lnspects Levees.