The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-23
RICHMOND LAWYERS
| | CANDIDATES FOR
| CIRCUIT BENCH
Several Prominently Mention
: ed to Succeed Judge
Nathan Golf
Ia. w. PATTERSON HAS
STRONG ENDORSEMENT
Names Of Richard E. Byrd,
Judge Prentis, Attorney Pol
lard and Judge Scott
Also Mentioned

With tha practical certainty of tho
[ncceptance by United States Circuit
| J Judge Nathan Goff OF the senatorship
to which he was elected Friday at the
joint session Of. the legislature of
West Virginia, interest in Richmond
yesterday conferred on the probable
successor of Judge Cor on the fed
eral bench.
1t ~ the general impression among
members OF the local bar that this
appointment should come to Virginia
ard to Richmond. and friends of the
possible candidates were busy yester-
| day in urging their claims.
A. w. Patterson Endorsed.
Perhaps the most strongly endorsed
of those in the list OF probable suc-
cessors to Judge Cot liz Attorney
Archibald w. Patterson, MIR. Patter-
~on Is a son of the late DR.. A ID. A.
Patterson. the millionaire tobacco
manufactures OF Richmond. who took
his A. II. and B. L. degree at the
University OF Virginia. and was in
the same law class with President
elect Wilson. Since their college days.
the friendship of Mr.. Patterson and
has not been permitted to wane. and
on two occasion the president-eiect
has been "a guest at the Patterson
home 1t is morally certain that
President Taft. within just a week or
the termination OF his administration
viii not attempt To nominate n sue
cessor to Judge Con. and IL he did the
senate would hold 1t up, and with
President Wilson as the appeiutive
power MIR. Patterson's chances are re-
garded as very bright.
Others Mentioned.
Others mentioned yesterday I'm CEN
necfinn with the judEeship were Rich
ard Evelyn Byrd. speaker of the
house OF delegates; City Attorney
Henry II. Pollard. Judge r. II. Prem
tis. Of the state corporation commits
SIGN. Judge R. Carter Scott, OF the
Circuit Courts of Richmond and At
torney Samuel A. Anderson. Mr..
Byrd was the campaign manager for
Woodrow Wilson In Virginia and en-
Joys the personal friendship OF the
preEffent~eIect. and IL would not be
too much to expect for him a federal
appointment as a reward for his ardu~
Gus services in the campaign. Mr..
Patterson has been a practitioner at
the local bar for twenty-odd years.
and lis recognized ms lawyer of ahii-
ity and a man of eminent judicial
qualifications
In the opinion OF those interested
the selection of Judge COTS success
sor viii probably rest between Mr.
Byrd and Mr.. Patterson.
The jurisdiction OF the United States
Circuit Court Of Appeals OF the Fourth
circuit. TO which successor TO Judge
Golf IL to be appointed. covers the
States OF Maryland. Virginia, West
F.xE S.a
Goff has held his present position
since 1892.
After having spent the greater part
of his life In judicial atmosphere
the election by the legislature of his
State to the United States senate
came as the call OF duty Of his State
rather than as cherished ambition,
for the jurist has been urged re-
peatedly by the Republicans NJ his
State to become candidate for the
senate and has persisfently refused.
The Call of Duty.
|. Yesterday and the day before, IN
the course of interviews. Judge Gon
declared that he much preferred 70
hold his present position on the
bench. in work which he enjoyed.
and for which practically all his eS-
perience had fitted him. The judge
stated Yesterday, however. that he
had recognized in his election seri-
Gus call to duty, and since his people
had wanted him to serve them ne
felt called upon to do It.
Judge Goff will not resign the
judgeship until about the middle OF
March. though his six-year senatorial
term begins officially March attn.
There are a number of important
cases under consideration In his court
In which he heard the argument. and
Fhe win not reIinauish his seat on the
federal bench until these have been
disposed Of
Hates to Give UP Bench.
Even as late as | o'clock yesterday
afternoon Judge Con- had not off,
cially signified his acceptance OF the
,senatorship. stating when he left the
federal building at that hour to go
to the Jefferson hotel for lunch that
ne really had not made up his mind
His comments on the situation, how
ever, and his attitude generally have
led close personal friends to the be-
lief that 1t is forcgone conclusion
that he will accept the honor ten
dered him by his native State.
Judge Con- is seventy years old. and
Is n native OF Clarksburg, West Vir-