The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-12-24
SPEEDY JUSTICE IN VERMONT.
St. Adams Messenger Considers Records
Of Deposed Justices.

OF DepoSed Justices.
When Governor Fletcher made tn
changes in the personnel of the highe
courts of Vermont one gathered from hi
statement that he was controlled in SOM
measure by 70-year age limit which
appealed to him. An examination of thu
ages OF the judges he removed and re
tanned. showed, however. that the ag'
test was not applied with impartial hand
aud there is a feeling that this could not
/ have been his real reason.
The governor also called the attention
of the people to article four of chapter
one of the constitution, which reads
/ Every person within this state ought t.
find certain remedy by having recourse
to the laws. for all injuries or wrongs
which he may receive in his person, prop
erty, or character; he ought TO obtain
right aud Justice, freely, and without be-
ing obliged to purchase il: completely
and without delay and comfortably to
the laws"
Being incorporated in the governors
statement as il was. article four must
have been one OF the reasons why the
governor was moved to act as he did. II
is not to be supposed that Mr.. Fletcher
was moved TO make new appointments
because he thought any Of the men re
moved would not give Justice unless it
was purchased. and that leaves the infer
cree that he wanted things livcned up;
that he wanted a court that would move
things along faster.
This being so it win be interesting e.
see just how the governor helped mat.
tiers by making the changes he did; il
will be- interesting to see how speedy the
Judges have been in the disposal of ca Sos
K would be unfair 10 Judge Justice Tay-
Tor for he has not been on the bench long
enough 10 furnish fair measure ot hi
speed. Taking the last four printed vol.
umcs of the Vermont Reports. volumes
~ 81 50, and SO. one finds the number Of
cases reported in each were:
Fifty-thrcc cases in volume SO.
Fifty-four eases in volume So
Fifty-fivc eases in volume IS.
Fiftv-siN cases in volume So.
OF this total the opinions were writ
ten;
Ry Chief Justice Powers ia ~ cases.
Bv Justice Nunson in - cases.
BY Justice Watson in 80 cases
Rv Justice Haselton in &C cases.
Further examination shows that the
average time IL took the
'curt 90 dispose OF the cases was a. fol- !
owss
Gases III which the opinion was written
By Chief Justice Powers l47 DAYS.
Cases in which the opinion was written I
By Justice Munson. Ia days.
Cases Ia which the opinion was written Il
" Justice Watson. los DAYS.
Gases in which the opinion was written 4
" Justice lisseiton. 1872 DAYS
Aualygiur these figures. one finds that Il
Justice Munson bad ~ per cent more
asses than Chief lustire Powers had. and
h. cases took little longer time on the
,eragp for disposition. but Justice Has
lton, one Of the deposed iurists. bad
lore cases than any 81 biz colleagues. 4
nd bis average time for disposition was
o per cent les than Chief Justicc Pow
r.. yet the governor. seeking to expedite
gal procedure deposed Justice Haseitan
I'd rpappointcA Chief Justice Powers.
q. Justice Haselton. i gill DO sccu
al p pr cent more cases 20 dispose Of
ran did Chief Justice Powers.
Il should D. stated that fhis compaFi.
IN i not made n the f1rn 81 a criticism
tie ehirf justier. There probably va.
inie good rrssuu for Chef iu-tie. peu-
i taking t5e Tins 30 has taken Ter dis
-.tIon 81 eases v}iel have rurir % ffm
li there j. mo complaint 81 tiip amount !
timf. hut It d9as nrfiaar that Govern
. Firte}er when hr titrs aftirie for-
.s uot given tlsf pubic ar3 letter rta
III for rakrr thr changes than nEfr
rrferrei to 81 ego Emt rhi.b reason
.s lseea pretty ven salaodsI by ttis
ur.
N t1a governor q 20 make tta rahE
Iirtf tiHt Le taek t- atiur e. sasa
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aFf ~ atrt-afnf tiiH frurrs ia-r zr
uh5a aaam 30 iaaaf 81 u-tf tE
snt5pU fhst fae erstrrar has rt
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isu has fse 1Hsrw Hn4 fnr Ha
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