Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-21
SIMS IS CHOSEN
FOR JUDGESH|P ON
SECOND BALLOT
Named as Successor to
Judge James Keith by
Democratic Caucus.
HAS SERVED ON BENCH
AND IN STATE SENATE
Names of Professor William
Minor Lille and Judge E. S.
Turner in Nomination.
BALLOTS SHOW CLOSE RACE
Nomination Of Sims Is Made Unani-
nous Reforc Second Ballot
Is Announced.
HAS SERVED ON BENCH
AND IN STATE SENATE
BALLOTS SHOW CLOSE RACE
Nomination Of Sims Is Made Unani-
nous Fseforc Second Ballot
Is Announced.

Is Announced.
Frederick Wilmer Sims. of Louisa.
former judge and State Senator. and for
twenty-five years distinguished mem
| her OF the bar was last night nom
| mated by the joint Democratic caucus
OF tho General Assembly to the vacancy
on the bench Of the Supreme Court oC
Appeals Of Virginia. which will be
created on February |, 1917. by the re-
tirement OF Judge James Keith.
The nomination took place on tho
! second ballot. Judge Sims polling sixty
one votes to the Gfty-onc votes re-
ceired by his opponent Professor Will
liam Minor Lille, dean of the law de-
partment of the University OF Virginia
| Upon the motion of Senator Saxon W.
Holt, Of Newport News. the nomina-
| tion of Judge Sims was made unani-
nous before the vote was announced
! lie will be formally elected to the high
Office of judge OF the Supreme Court
OF Appeals later in the present session,
/ and will serve for term of twelve
years. beginning February 1. 1917.
| Only one other candidate was NOM
| inated-Ju,lGc Edward s. Turner. of
! Warrcnton. The first ballot was taken
with all three aspirants in the race,
| the vote resulting as follows: Lille. -:
Sims. so. and Turner II. Under the
rules Of caucus. the name of Judge
J Turner was then dropped. and tho con-
| test on the next and last ballot mar
rcwcd down To Judge Sims and Pro-
| fessor Lille.
NOMINEE IS WELI~KNOwN
VIRGINIA LAWYER
Judge Sims Is n native OF Louisa
County, where he was born on July
81. 1862. the son OF Or. Frederick f.
and..Sfaria Louisa Kimbrough Sims
His legal education was obtained a the
University OF Virginia. lie was ad
mitted TO the bar in 1856. bcginnng his
active practice At Louisa.
On January l. 1921 he was elected
Judge of the County Court OF Louisa
County. an Office which he flllcd until
II was abolished by tho new Constitu-
tion on February |. 1904. In November,
1905. nc was elected to the State Sem
ate from tho Thirteenth District. Hs
served on tho Committees on Privileges
and Elections. Courts OF Justice, Roads
and Internal Navigation. and Enrolled
Bills. In 1855 Judge Sims married Miss
Lucy Payne Winston. daughter OF the
late Colonel William a. Winston, OF
Louisa.
The General Assembly Of Virginia,
duty Of elcvating some citizen to
position OF high honor. has not in the
present generation been the scene OF a
judicial election so fraught with tense
interest as the one OF last night. As
rivals for a place on the States highest
tribunal were arraycd a distinguished
teacher OF law, under whose banner
were narshalcd some Of the ablest men
in the Legislature, and renowned
practitioner of law OF no less distfnc-
ton and n still greater following.
TENSE FEELING IN
HOUSE THROUGHOUT SESSION
While the Democratic members OF the
two houses went into caucus under a
current prediction that Judge Sims
would be nominated before the evening
was over, there was sufficient clement
Of doubt to make even tho stanchest
supporter of the Louisa man apprehen-
sive OF Il last minute rcalignment. Not
the least factor that contributed to
this feeling OF insecurity was the
strength OF third faction which
championed the cause of Judge Turner.
1t was recognized that the Turner men
held the balance Of power. and that
the manner In which they would split
up after their candidate was dropped
! would determine the election.
among lawyers and laymen alike
. packed the gallery and lower floor or
the hall OF the House of Delegates with
a demonstrativc crowd. Long before
Chairman Jordan. of the joint caucus,
called the body to order the gallery
was filled to overlooking. The ASSEM-
blagc included former members OF the
Legislature and prominent members Of
the bar and judiciary, from Richmond
and many sections of the State. a
number OF women were interested spec
| tatora. all OF them taking a keen in
terest in the proceedings.
NOMINATING SPEECHES
| ARE NUMEROUS
Nominating and second;ng speeches
, We're numerous and unrestricted as to
time. There ran through all the
speeches the almost unanimous opinion
, that tho General Assembly could make
no mistake in choosing any one or
the three candidates who were offered
NIL OF them richly qualified to discharge
the duties Of the high Office about to
be filled. Personal convictions alone,
as TO tho superior qualifications of one.
the speakers made II clear. governed
them In expressing their preference Cor
this or that candidate. Several OF the
speakers expressed grasifcation at the
TACT that rivalry between Judge Sims
and Professor Lille has at no time been
marred by tho introduction OF anything.
even remotely personal.
, The caucus was called to order at
$40 o'clock. and proceeded to nominate
Judge John T. Goolrick az judge OF
the Corporation Court OF Fredericks-
! burg. TO succeed himself for now