The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-02-19
Judge Belden in Disbarring
w. c. Cowling Shows Ex-
allied Place of Profession
HOLDS CONFIDENCE Of PEOPLE

Judge e. B. Belden Of the circuit
court Of Kenosha county, has issued a
very interesting statement in regard
to the exalted calling of an attorney
in connection with his decision dis
barring William G. Cowling of Oshkosh
from the practice of the profession. In
his opinion Judge Belden says:
No calling is higher or more hon
orable, none whose duties and priv
leges should be more strictly and hon
orably observed, than that of attor-
ney and counsellor at law. Engaged
in with honorable motive and honor
ably pursued, it entities one to much
confidence and respect The trust and
responsibility Of advising and repre-
senting others, of assisting in the care
Of their estates and affairs is sacred
and should be discharged with the
highest integrity and honor. Some
times, indeed too often, the true func-
tion and office of the attorney is be-
clouded with commercialism; some
times wholly lost sight of and regard
ed as but means to advance person
al interest; sometimes the trust is be-
trayed and used as cloak for de-
frauding.
An attorney at law is an officer of
the court and in a sense, of the state.
The position is one of much dignity,
responsibility and trust. 1t is very i'm
portant to the people and the court
that the standard of admission to the
place and retention thereof should be
as high practicable in law, and main
tanned as high as possible in fact. The
true lawyer has been rightly termed
a minister of justice, and he should
never forget the requirements of his
calling, nor allow his professional in
tegrity to lapse or be tempered with.
An attorney bears with him the GER
tifcate of the court and of the state
that he is of good moral character and
fit person to be entrusted with the
delicate and responsible duties of a
member of the legal profession. This
certificate the public has right TO
rely upon, and to presume its holder
to be a person Of integrity and honor.
AS good moral character is a condi-
tion precedent to admission to the bar,
so it is requisite condition for the
rightful continuance in the practice of
the profession Hence, when it is
made to appear that an attorney has
been guilty of acts which show him to
be so deficient in honesty as to be I'M
worthy of confidence, it is the duty Of
the court to withdraw the certificate.
This duty is owing alike to the public
and to the bar Proceedings for dis
barment are not so much to punish
the accused as to protect the public
from imposition. The judgment of
disbarment is intended not solely as
punishment TO the defendant, but also,
and perhaps what is more important,
as a statutory example and warning to
others who might be disposed to for
get and betray the trust.
| The court IS not unmindful Of tile
serious consequences to the defendant
of an order disbaring him, nor lacking
in sympathy for those who must suffer
with him, but the evidence in the pro
feeding so Overwhelmingly shows such
repeated acts Of unprofessional con-
duet, betrayal Of trust and confidence
and lack of appreciation Of the honor
able office Of attorney that the court
1
] would be a dereliet in the discharge