The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1914-01-08
GREAT RECORD
OF HIGH COURT
Idaho Unsurpassed by Any
Other State for Prompt
ness of Decisions.

DOioC, Jdu. O.-MeluDeTS Oh lQe
state supreme court feel gratified over
the condition of the court calendar
at the opening of the new year. In
the past year five sessions of court
were held in north Idaho. Two ses-
sions only We're held there in any
previous year. 1t Is also noted that
the Idaho court has a greater variety
of complex cases to handle than per
haps any other state court in the
union. ranging from mining, lumber
and power cases in the north to ir-
rigation cases in the south. In at
least dozen cases tried in the past
year interests running into the mil
lions in value were involved.
Chief Justice Speaks.
Chief Justice Ailshie in discussing
the situation said:
"The November term of the su-
preme court adjourns today, and the
January term opens Monday. While
there Is a steady increase in the
business before the courts, the work
of the supreme court Is practically up
to date. The court has held five
terms in the northern part of the
state during the past year, and the
business of that section is all dispos-
ed of with the exception of opinions
in few cases which have been pre-
pared but are not yet ready for fill
ing. There are about so cases on
the calendar for hearing at the Boise
term which opens Monday, and it is
safe to say that If all these so cases
Were set for argument during the
coming week, that the court would
not be able to get counsel to argue
one-third of them. We would find in
some cases that attorneys have stipu
lated to give each other additional
time to file briefs, or that attorneys
are out of the city or engaged in
other courts and other work, and can,
not present their cases ON appeal, OF
that the cases are in process OF
settlement.
Against "FriendIy" Suits.
"Of the cases now ON the calendar
for hearing, four have been heard
once and are now up for re-argument
and doubtless some of the other cas-
es are what are known as friendly
actions. BY friendly action is meant
that the case is not real lawsuit
but that somebody wants the court
to say he has acted within the law,
SO that If anybody goes to criticise
his action or question his conduct OF
proceeding, he can say 1t has been
approved by the court and thereby
shift any odium or criticism attach
ed to his action on 10 the courts
Courts ought to give but little time
to this kind of business. The state
pays the expense of maintaining
courts, and 1t is enough to pay the
expense of settling real differences
and disputes without maintaining
courts to decide moot questions.
"Of the cases now on the calen
dar, at least eight have been al
some time heretofore set for argu
ment, and the attorneys have either
not been ready or have stipulated fol
continuances.
Better Than in Other States.
From what l know of the condi
ton of litigation in other states,
think l am safe in saying that there
Is not another state where a case car
be heard and decided on appeal al
quickly as in Idaho. Almost any cast
can be heard on appeal in this state
in from 80 to so days after the ap
peal Is perfected, If all the judge,
are we'll and able to be present at tn
sittings of the court. To be sure
there are cases on file here tina
have been pending much longer-per
haps year or more-but that is be
cause the parties for some reason dix
not want the case heard. Some OLE
cases have been set by the court TO
argument several times, and eacl
time an agreement was reached be
tween the attorneys that the cas-,
should go over to be reset. In SOM
instances, In order to get an old cas-,
disposed Of, we have had to motif.
counsel that the case must be eithe
heard or the appeal would be dis
missed"