Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1913-03-06
COLONEL MASSIE TALKS
ON FEDERAL COURTS
RIG HMoND. vA.-speciaI.-

~ y n VI - y H. NA---N UNNAiA.--
Coionel Eugene G. Massie. one OF
the most intimate friends and ad-
mirers OF Mr. Archibald W. Patter-
son. who is being urged for the va
cant circuit JudgcShip in place OF
Judge Con. Wednesday, discussing the
history OF the court and the question
OF q successor, as we'll as the justice
OF the claims Cf Mr.. Patterson, said.
Inc history of the Federal Circuit
Court is peculiar. The Constitution
OF the United States Article III. sec
ton /. contains the following pro-
vision:
The judicial power OF the United
States shall hc vested in one supreme
Court and in such interior courts as
the Congress may from time TO time
Oruain and establish
In 1888 Congress passed what g.
known as the judiciary act for the or
ganllauon Ot the supreme Court and
the establishment OF circuit and dis
trict courts. In 1904. President John
i Adams. ON the night before his term
I OF Office expired. appointed and COM
mlsslorcu a number OF Federal judges.
+ IN referring TO this. Judge Charles
/ 1T. Simout0u. ia one of has lectures
I before the Richmond Law school OF
ttichmoud Coiltge In 1886. said:
In sol Congress created circuit
Iuuses-tnree Tor each circuit. This
4 was done just as The administration
|NH ANNlNANiAA aNAAM AAANNE WIS ABOUT
\ 20 expire Tie appointed AL the judges
and commissioned them on the eve
T OF the inauguration OF Mr.. Jefferson.
J hls successor. In the political slang
/ OF the day these JUDGES were known
as The Midnight Judges This so
/ cNaspcrated the dominant political
/ party. who had defeated him and had
/ elected Mr. Jefferson. that the act
was repealed and the office OF circuit
judge was abolished. The circuit
..... ave. q j
administered by the circuit justice and
the district judge until 1863"
IL was not until 1870 that the Cir
cult Court OF the Fourth Circuit, in
Guiding Maryland. Virginia. West Nir-
ginla. North Carolina and South Caro-
Ina. was really organized FOR busi-
ness. The FIRST Judge was Hon. Hugh
l.. Bond. OF Maryland. appointed by
President Grant ga 1870. Judge Bond
was succeeded 10y Hon. Charles Ii
Simonton, of South Carolina, who was
appointed by President Cleveland iu
1892 In 1891 an additional Judge
was added by act OF Congress TO thC
circuit. and Hon. Nathan Golf. @.
West Virginia. was appointed hy Pres
ident Harrison. Upon the death Of
Judge Simouton. IN 1903. Hon. JcteI
a.. lrltchard. ~ North Carolina. was
appointed by President Roosevelt
Thus there have only been four Fed
cral circuit Judges under the present
Virginia. a ntth is now 90 Doe ap-
pointed on account of the resigna-
. zion 81 Judge Goff and shall 30 moi
lc said "En Dat Virginia Qu.ntum"
The appointment Is Co DE made hs
president Woodrow wilson. native
~ Virginia, and. ln view OF The his
for.c Lacis stated above. 10 would seen
Innt Virginia has right 90 expect Ia,
honor Co De conferred upon one o
her sons. The friends 90 Mr.. Archi
bald w. Patterson. who was Ga ia,
b. ltw school with President Wilson "a
. the University OF Virginia. and era
|uatc4 with the degree OF y. L.. fee
, THAI he win Doe the natural selection
{ Sir. Patterson has had wide expert
b renee ln both State and Federal courts
. and ls IN every way qualified for tn
D position. Mr.. Wilson has persona
p knowledge ~ his fitness. for their in
! umacy has been maintained withOu
, "a break since their college days. an,
+ viii NOT Doe required 10 seek sccondar
Z evidence on this point.