The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-24
NAMES ARE ALREADY BEING SUGGESTED FOR SUPREME COURT Three Candidates Are Also to Be Nominated for Court of Appeals in the Spring INCUMBENTS WILL
 ASK REELECTION Understood That No Opposition Will Be Offered to Judge Pelham
 of the Court of
 Appeals
By l.. S. BETTY


 With the approach of the spring primary election lawyers of the state are begin ming to manifest a keen interest in the places to be filled on the supreme court and the court of appeals. Three judges are to be nominated in the primary for positions on the supreme court, and three embracing every position on the bench are to be nominated for the court of ap- peals.
 The offices to be filled are those now held on the supreme court by Chief Jus tice John c. Anderson. Judge Ormond Somerville and Judge Lucien D. Gardner. and on the court of appeals by Presiding Justice John Pelham, Judge E. Perry Thomas and Judge J. B. Brown.
 As candidates for these various judicial offices, only the incumbeits fin office have as yet indicated their intention of run ming, though there will doubtless be others. There have been various rumors to the effect that Birmingham will offer a candidate for the supreme court, though lis ndme has not been learned. It Is ru- mored that Thomas k. Knight of Greens boro will offer for a place on that bench, but it has not been confirmed. Then again. 1t has been reported that Chan cellor w. W. Whiteside of Anniston, chan cellor of the northeastern division, will seek the nomination for a seat on the court of appeals. but the authenticity of this report has not been ascertained. There have come rumors from Anniston to the effect that Chancellor Whiteside has no intention of offering for a place on the court of appeals, while other re- ports declare his positive candidacy.
 No Opposition to Pelham
 So it seems that speculation is playing the most important part in all reports rcgal oing candidates for places on the two courts. It is known beyond every shad- ow of doubt that the present members of the two courts whose terms will expire in January, 1917, will offer for re-eiec- tion, and it is regarded as certain that the majority of these judicial officers will be successful at the polls.
 Judge John Pelham, the presiding jus tice of the court of appeals, Is not ex- pected to have opposition in his race for reelection. In the opinion of hundreds of lawyers througnout Alabama, ho should rot have opposition, for, as is known, he has been with the court since its estab- lishment and has been largely responsible for the high place it has assumed in tue judiciary system of the sIate
 Judge Pelham, who had had 12 years successful experience as circuit judge was one of the first to be named a member of the court of appeals after it's creation by the legislature of 1911, and although on two separate occasions he has been rendered Seat on the su- preme court, he has declined that honor, preferring to remain with the new tribunal and to assist with his talent and ability in making that court one of the strong arms of the judiciary system. And now it is generally conceded that he has realized his ambition
 Judge Pelham was chairman of the committee raised by Governor O'Neal to reform and revise the judicial system of the state, and while that committee did little more than point out some of these necessary reforms and suggest methods by which they might be put into effect it is known that the legislature at it's recent session adopted many of it's rec concentrations. Judge Pelham met ire quently with the judiciary committee of the two houses during the session of the legislature and rendered efficient aid in the preparation of a number of of the court mea sures.
 Yet the senior judge of the court of appeals assumes no credit to himself for the many court reforms authorized by the legislature.
 Tt is my ambition to help make the court of appeals strong and efficient arm of the states judiciary system" Judge Pelham told The Age-Herald cor respondent. q am desrous that the court shall be recognized by every lawyer In Alabama as necessary to the proper administration of the law. With that end in view, shall offer for reelection" he concluded.
 And there is hardly a doubt but that he will realize his ambition. His many friends throughout the state are con- fident that he will be reelected without opposition and should he again offer for a place on that court his election again will be assuhed.
 May Re-Elect All Judges
 But not only is Judge Pelham expectd to be reelected as member of the court of appeals but Judges Thomas and Brown are also predicted as winners In the spring primary. There may be one or two candidates for places on that bench, but it is considered highly prob able that all the present members will be retained.
 Judge John C. Anderson, chief Justice of the supreme court, also Is expected to be elected without opposition. As is known, he was appointed to succeed Chief Justice J. R. Dowdell
 Judges Somerville and Gardner have both made splendid regulations since as- suming places on the supreme bench, and it is believed that notwithstanding any possible opposition, both will be retained. However. the race for judicial positions will not be decided until several months hence. and there may be some surprises But the consensus of opinion in official circles is that nearly all, if not all, of the judges who shall offer for reelection will be retained in office.