Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1915-11-04
HIGHEST JUDICIAL
H0N0RS OF HER SEX
MISS 0RFA JEAN SHONTz IS
SELECTED AS REFEREE FOR
THE Los ANGELES JUVE-
nile COURT.

The Los Angeles Times prints the
following in relation TO the receni
appointment of Miss Orfa Jean
shontz to the highest tadicial posi-
ton held by a woman. Miss Shontz
is a sister of Mrs Frank Creighton
and Mr.. C. b. Shontz of this place
and is well known to many of our
readers:
Miss Orfa Jean Shontz was ap-
pointed yesterday as referee of the
Juvenile Court, a position created by
the new juvenile Court law. 1t is the
first time in the history of the Juye-
nile Court that such a procedure has
Teen attempted, and the appointment
places Miss Shontz at the apex in
this State at least, OF women in a
judicial or administrative capacity.
Referee Shontz will take office
November 1. She will sit in Judge
Reeves place in Juvenile Hall, deal
ing especially with women and girl
cases. but her functions extend to
men and boys as well. She will hear
the evidence, report findings and
conclusions with recommendations.
Judge Reeve is now working on a
system which will carry the referee
court into surrounding cities. The
referee court will in the future sit in
Long Beach, Santa Monica, Monrovia
and other centers. An arrangement
will be made with the justices O..
the peace and police judges in these
cities whereby courtroom will be
provided. The attaches of the Juvc
nile Court will serve the referee, S,
that the hearings may be conducted
with proper judicial sosemnity.
Judge Reeve has this to say about
Miss Shontz:
She is a very capable yonng
woman. thorough student, and she
has a remarkable understanding of
SAS JufOAAAS 1lolAtucAOA. OA6 Aeio
poise, balance and temperament, and
IS wel-founded in the principles Of
the law"
The appointee must be a lawyer.
Probate Judge Rives, whose private
she has been for two years
also pays her high tribute. In see
ing her go to this high official posi-
lion, he states he is divided between
pride and regret.
Miss Shontz, who is young
woman, was born at Ayoca, Iowa.
Her father and mother are dead. In
his lifetime Mr.. Shontz was a large
'ruit grower OF Idaho. She passed
through many stages before study
ng law. In the Middle West She
gained a knowledge OF the banking
business. For some time she was
of the Chautauqua Bureau,
It Minneapolis, St.Paul and Chicago.
She is secretary of the Professional
Womanis Club of this city; AN or
sanizer and charter member OF the
National Woman's Legal Sorority |
Phi Delta Delta; a member of the |
?. E. o. Sisterhood, and of the Wo-
mans City Club.
She passed the bar examination |
1918. and graduated from
J. S. c. in June, 1914. For three
ears she was a probation Officer
md in that capacity was one of the
most valuable members of the staff
n February, 1913, Judge Rives select
d her as his secretary, and she
pecialized in probate law. So eff
lent has she become that Miss
'hontz IS writing digest of the
california probate law, book which
to become valuable.
Few women are better qualified
han Judge Rives's selection to tax
he office of referee, which combines
.ot only a knowledge of law, but
experience in all the lines which she
as engaged in before passing the
ar examination. She is especially
ortunate in possessing the judicial
which means patience,
bsence of nerves and the ability to
each conclusion without circum-
ocution.