Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-06-26
SPYING ON JUDGES
BY GOVERNMENT
INTOLERABLE,
SAYS SPEER
Georgia Federal Judge De-
clares Power to Disgrace and
Defame Jurist Is Dangerous
and Cruel.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
SCORED BY SPEAKER
[ by Leased wire IN Eycn,ue Hcrn,a. !

[ by Leased Wire Ia Evening Herald
sioux city. la. June Criticism
81 the department of justice for "ar-
bitrary espionage or investigation"
OF federal Judges by means OF exam.
iners. by Judge Emory speer, Unit
ed States Judge tor the southern dis
trict OF Georgia. was "A feature OF tho
annual meeting of the Iowa state Bar
association which met here today.
Judge Speer declared the situation
was 'intolerable." Ho said In part:
More dangerous that the power to
disquolify a judge IL the power to dis
grace and defame him. l ask you
To consider II. in the utter absence OF
,nll charges against him. Is not the
recently adopted method of arbitrary
espionage or Investigation OF Judge.
made hy the examiners OF the depart
mcnt of Justice, under the direct or
der at the attorney general 10 mall
treat American Judges with cruel and
apparently callOus Indifference TO
their reputation and good name? I
speak impersonally and with all dua
Difference and respect for the head OF
department who Is ex-Officio the
loader of the American bar. lie iE
however, also the leading counsel for
the government. and no matter how
considerate. he may be, ought any
lawyer 10 have inqdisltorial power
over the judge who Is to try his case
And. least Of all. should this power
be exercised Ia land where the In
dependence OF the judiciary II the
very foundation stone Of the national
structure3 II ~ not lut0lerable that
the lawyer who Is the leading coun-
~ for the government shall have
within his power and control tho
right To- question the honor and char
aoteF, official and personal. OF the
Judge upon whom determinations OF
all national Jurisdiction must depend
True. the attorney general can act al
any time and make any accusation
he thinks proper ns can any cltiSon
hut can he constitutionaiiy exert his
powers in inqulsltorlal examinations
Of "A Judge. appointed by the presi.
dent and confirmed by the senate, and
who holds hts office during his good
behavior Whore n the constitution.
al right or statutory authority? Doe'
this not commit to lawyer on one
side of a multitude OF cases, the righi
10 investigate the title TO his offic'
ct Judge and II this could ever b'
properly done. should IL ever be don'
without notice IA the Judge and in
formation to him Of the complaint
against him2 " there ever could h'
shred OF proprle,y In such action
should Il ever be done when tn
court IN In actual session and whei
the Judge should he undlsiurbed Il
those absorbing. intense and cxaOtinl
intellectual efforts and labor ~
which the rights OF property and o
liberty must depend who IL ,he tx
aminer Of the department Of justice
II have looked, in vain through tn
statutes 10 find the definition OF hi
/ duties. This critic and censor o
| Judges need not be practitioner o
even lawyer. For many years. how
ever. 7 have observed that they wer
restricted 60 examination and repoY
on the marshal. clerk and other dis
nursing officers, most OF whom ar
directly appointed by the department
Of justice. and who Of course, shout