Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-23
JUDGE KEITH WILL NOT
OFFER FOR REELECTION
President Of Supreme Court An
nOunces Purpose to Retire
at End Of His Term.
ELECr SUCCESSOR THIS WINTER
General Assembly Will Choose Menu
her of Supreme Bench to Serve for
Twelve Years from February I,
19I1.-CandidateS Mentioned.

II shall retire from the bench Of the
Supreme Court OF Appeals at the ex-
piration of my term" said Judge James
Keith president OF the court last
night. Il feel that I am growing old,
and too old TO enter upon another term.
In n few words, that is the reason"
Friends to whom the intimation of
Judge Kcith's Intention to leave the
bench came some days ago expressed
surprise when they learned that he
would not retire In time to take ad-
vantage OF the pension act, under
which Supreme Court Judges are re-
tired on II pension OF $4,000 n year. in
the event that the act is repealed by
the next General Assembly. The i'm
preston prevails that the judges PEN
sion law Will be repealed. but will not
apply TO members OF the court who
have retired and are still living
When this matter was mentioned to
Judge Keith. he said: IF the pension
act is repealed. what is to prevent the
Legislature from repeating the pen
SION" 1t was suggested that provision
might be made for continuing pensions
already operative. even though the act
authorizing the retirement of Supreme
u.
WILL. RETIRE WHEN iIS
TERM EXPIRES. FEBRUARY 1. IOI7
Well" said Judge Keith. II intend
TO retire from the bench when my term
expires"
Judge James Keith has been a mcm-
Der OF the Virginia judiciary continu-
ously since 1870. His career as "a
lawyer was brilliant. while as a jurist
h.. "A
judges the Circuit Court bench in Vir-
ginia has known Since his elevation
10 the bench of the highest court in
the state, his career has been even
more distinguished. He has gained a
national reputation through opinions
written by him and handed down bv
the supreme Court of Appeals Of yir-
ginia.
Judge Keith was born in Fauuuier
County September I, 1899, and was
reared in the county. He took his law
course in the University OF Virginia,
under John Il. Minor
EniistinS rs a private in the famous
Black Horse Cavalry in 1861, he rose to
the rank of adjutant of the Fourth Vir-
ginia Cavalry in 1868. Hc rode with
Payne, Wickham and FitZ Lee. fol
lowed the feather" OF Jeb Stuart on
many field. and saw his last service
at Appomattox Courthouse in the cav
airy charge that drove Sheridan back
nearly two miles. and was not halted
uhtil the Army Of the James. under
General ord, was encountered and IN.
tonicdcratcs were compelled to Weld
to overwhelming numbers and re-
sources
SUCCESSOR WILL. RE CHOSEN HY
LEGlSI.ATURE THIS WINTER
AT the end of the war he returned to
the practice OF law. He was elected
10 the Legislature in 1869 and a wear
later was elected circuit judge. con-
tnuing on the circuit bench until
january J. 1898. when he became u
member OF the Supreme Court. He had
beeh on the bench only two years
when he was elected president of tho
court
Judge kcith's successor will bo
elected by The General Assembly ,his
winter for term of twelve years from
February /, 1911. Several candidates
to succeed him have been mentioned
among them Judge Frederick Wilmer
Sims, of Louisa, and Judge Jesse F..
West. of Sussex. These judges were
candidates for the Supreme Bench
when Judge Joseph l.. Kelly was
elected at the last regular session of
the Legislature. Attorney Thomas r.
Keith. of Fairfax. has also been men
toned for the prospective vacancy.
Friends OF Judge Sims base his claim
In addition to his other qualifications
on the generally followed precedent OF
selecting one OF the Judges from each
OF the 1--WE grand divisions Of the State.