The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-06-18
JUDGE H|LBURN ON
OPENING OF COURT
Makes Happy Reference to
Friendly Relations with
Members ofthe Bar.

Judge S. j. Hilburn, recently ap-
pointed Judge of the new Fourth Ju-
dicial Circuit, presided at the open
ing term of the court for Putnam
county last Tuesday. AS understood
among the attorneys present it was
not intended to more than open and
adjourn, as it is but short time since
the Putnam county docket was cleared
by Judge Wills at the regular spring
term and while the county was still
in the Eighth circuit. The opening
of court at this time was merely to
comply with the law fixing the date of
the terms.
The court was called to order
promptly at IL noon by Sheriff Ken
nerly and few were present except the
courts officers, including members of
the local bar and several attorneys
from adjoining counties, including
State Attorney Long of the old cir
cult, Hon. J. E. Futch of Starke and
Hon. E. Noble Calhoun, the newly ap,
pointed State Attorney for this circuit.
There was no business transacted;
members of the bar simply availed
themselves of the opportunity to Of
. fer congratulations to Judge Hilburn
and State Attorney Calhoun and pre-
dict their successful administration of
justice. Among those who spoke
We're Attorneys Blackwell, Marshall,
Odom, Long and the new State At
torney, Hon. E. Noble Calhoun.
Judge Hilburn, always particularly
impressive on an occasion where
there is responsibility and kindly
greetings to acknowledge, spoke with
much feeling in his response to the
5 Fluctuations of his brother lawyers
He said:
< Gentlemen of the Bar and officers of
the Court:
"For more than twenty years | have
constantly been before the courts in
the capacity Of practicing attorney
J but never before in life, have | oc-
, cupied the position that l today hold
3 and you will not be surprised if
should appear little awkward, OF
r that you should detect a slight de.
t gree of nervousness on my part
While l am very proud of the great
: honor, yet am fully conscious of the
5 fact that it brings with it grave re.
sponsibilities. You have very kindly
rendered to me your services, as
knew you would do, and l wish tc
thank you most kindly for this gra.
cious offer on your part. | am GLAD
that,I can truthfully say that enjoy
the most friendly relations with ev-
cry member of the bar and every
officer of this court. believe this
is true of all of the counties compos-
ing this circuit. 1t has been said
by some that | was very fond of my
friends and far from loving my enc
mics, and for this reason they feared
that | might be thereby officially in
fluenced. No lawyer made this
statement, and no lawyer has any such
apprehension. The training of law
yers is such that they have no appre-
tensions along this line. Permit me
to say for the benefit of any who may
entertain such an idea, that they are
, mistaken. God being my helper,
justice shall be my aim and the law
my guide. Courts cannot grant IA
vors, and to punish enemies on ac-
count of animosity would be a pros
titution of the high office which
hold and debasement Of myself. L
shall be my aim to hue to the line
and let the chips fall where thev
,, may 1t is true mistakes will be
made by me as all courts err, but
my mistakes will not be of the heart
not attributable to bias from friend
= ship or animosity. The fact is en-
tertain no i'll feelings toward anyone,
and if ! have enemies, | know of no
reason for it.
we have never had a bad judge
. 20 preside over the circuit court IN
this county within my recollection.
The fact is the judiciary of this S~"to
is above reproach. Over twenty
years ago when | commenced the
practice of law here, Judge Hooker
was the circuit judge. | was fond
of him. In fact, l did not feel that
any one was able to take his place
He was elevated to the Sunreme Court
land Judge Bullock succeeded him. 1t
was only a short time when we learn
Ell that Judge Bullock was a splendid
Judge and we gave him up very re-
luctantly when change came in the
districts. Judge Wills succeeded
Judge Bullock. 1t was only a short
time until he won the hearts of all,
and now we give him up most re-
luctantly. | believe that it is the
consensus of opinion of this bar that
there is no ADLER jurist in the State
than Judge Wills. He treated every
one with due consideration, and we
were always sure of the honesty of
his purpose and we always accepted
his decisions without complaint even
if we felt that he had made an error
Occasionally we would appeal from his
decisions and sometimes we would re-
verse him in the Supreme Court, still
we held him in the same high regard
and loved him just as devotedly as
ever. 1t shall be my haaest endea-
vor to follow the well beaten paths
of these able jurists whom l succeed
and if | can through the honesty of
my purpose, the careful application to
the duties of this important position,
approach the record of either of these
gentlemen, too will be able to receive
the approval of this intelligent bar.
81 regretted to go out of Judge
Wills district, because l had practiced
law before him so long, understood
him so well, was so convinced of his
Iahilikxv aY,l sp1apr,stxv FhoA I fnlE k,t