South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-01
JUDGE VAN FLEET
HONORED BY BAR
Resolutions Passed BY ASSOCia-
ton Tender Retiring Super
iOr Court JuriSt Full Approx
al of His Administration.

In recognition OF the services Of
Vernon W Van Fleet In his official
capacity as Judge OF the St Joseph
superior court, members of the bar
association gathered in the superior
court room Thursday afternoon at
o'clock and gave expression TO their
appreciation of these services. Judge
c. A Farabaugh presided at the
meeting. Informal speeches were
made by members of the association,
after which "a resolution was adopted
with the request that il be spread up
on the records OF the court The
meeting was adjourned at $3.50 o'clock
at which time Judge Van Fleet ad-
journed the court until 9 o'clock Fri
day morning.
The speeches Of the afternoon were
laudatory OF the expeditions. efficient
and economical manner IN which the
courts of St. Joseph county were Op-
Grated Particular attention was call
ed 10 the fact that the decisions of
Judge Van Fleet had stood almost as
"a whole without appeals. The retir-
! ing Judge was praised for the very
| impartial attitude which he had main
| tanned while on the bench and also
/ for the fact that often he had de-
parted so far from his work as 70 give
! lawyers at various times valuable ald
| in the handling of their cases. It was
pointed out that the retiring Judge
had done much toward bringing honor
/ to the St. Joseph county courts and
in adding 10 the public confidence in
the judiciary.
Ford Adds Endorsement.
! George Ford. judge-elect, was the
| first speaker. He stated il as his
| opinion that Judge Van Fleet had not
| been accorded fair treatment by the
| republican party and he added that
! if Judge Van Fleet had secured the
| nomination he would gladly have
] given him his fun support. Judge
| Walter A. Funk also spoke. he
| briefly called attention TO the cordial
! relations which had at all times eX-
! listed between himself and Judge Van
! Fleet. other speakers were Stuart
| MacKibbin. Samuel Parker. A. G..
/ Graham. W. A. McInerny. Eli Seebirt.
/ Thomas ". Slick, Dudley ShiVely,
Arthur Hubbard. w G. Crabill Vitus
Jones and Judge Van Fleet.
When Judge Van Fleet was called
upon he was requested to again take
the chair which he was vacating as
| judge. He spoke briefly and, in a
| heartfelt way, thanked those who had
! so fOrcibly expressed their regard. He
said that it had been only through
| the hearty cooperation OF the mem
bers OF the bar. who were gentlemen
| as Well as lawyers, that he had been
enabled TO accomplish what he mad
accomplished.
! In a brief preamble 10 the resolu-
ton which was adopted. il was re-
called how St Joseph county had
/ been given a circuit court because Of
| the increase Of business which had
made il impracticable for a judge 10
care for the litigatiOns of more than
"A
! from 1900 TO 1907 the population of
South Bend had increased 80 percent
and the population Of Mishawaka APP
prOXimately 100 percent. Litigation
increased prOportionately until finally
| in 1907 the legislature created the ST
Joseph superior court with practically
! concurrent Jurisdiction with the ST.
! Joseph circuit court
The governor thereupOn appointed
| Vernon W. Van Fleet 10 preside over
the new court, recognizing 'the pecul-
| lar fitness. scholarly attainments and
| general qualifications OF the man FOR
| the place. During the seven years In
which Judge Van Fleet has held the
position the higher courts have i'm
| very few instances interfered with the
decisions rendered by him He has
made for himself such a reputation
| that he has been called 10 sit as spec
ial Judge in many important cases
/ outside of his home district.
Resolution Adopted.
The resolution was adopted as fol
flows: In recognition of the untiring
/ services rendered by Judge Van Fleet.
| his impartial and fearless administra
ton Of justice. the dispatch with
| which he has transacted the business
| of his court. his gentlemanly de-
\ meanor and his qualifications as "A
man. We, in a special meeting as
| sembled. desire to express our gratl-
tude and extend 10 him our thanks
FOR past services and TO wish him the
| success in practice which he Justly
! merits.
Now. therefore. be il resolved bv
the St Joseph County Bar association
I at special meeting assem- bled. that
we desire to. and do hereby tender 20
/ Judge Vernon ". Van Fleet, on his
| retirement from office. our unqualified
! approval OF his administration OF the
! affairs OF his office. our admiration for
his scholarly attainments as a lawyer.
his ability as "A jurist and his fearless
and impartial administration of JUS
I tice."
/ Messrs. & J. Crumpa ser. l. ".
Harumprerhunidr and N.rnpcf 1Tprrfc