Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-08-25
JUDGE h. B. HOWE.
Praised by Brooklyn Paper. This
Informal yet Dignified Ver-
mont Judge Impresses PeO-
pie and Lawyers Like
His Kindly Ways.

The Brooklyn Eagle devotes con-
siderable space to the Vermont
United States judge, Harland B.
Howe, who was assigned to that dis
trict to help clear up large conges-
ton of business. 1t says he has Gre
ated profound impression by his
informality of manner, his willing
ness to unbend from the stiff dignity
of his office to converse with attor-
neys as though the bench did not
separate them, and by his liberality
and democratic methods.
Il strive to make the atmosphere
of the courtroom free, indulgent
and considerable" said Judge Howe
II believe that all persons coming to
court should go out feeling that they
have been accorded courteous and
considerate treatment and if they
havn't won their case they have had
fair treatment.
II have always maintained that
the judges should be the most hum
BILE and most tolerant persons about
court house. Why should man
who has become a judge be other
wise? Why shouldn't he be more
considerate and more humble than
before?
Just because a man is judge
and has got lot of power he should
use it very sparingly, and that is the
plan try to follow"
Direct from his native district
where as he expresses it, he is plain
country man, Judge Howe came to
Brooklyn at the request of the pre-
siding justice and the brief period
on the Brooklyn bench that has just
ended has revealed to the astonished
and delighted members of the bar
that his honor practices what he
breaches.
Judge Howe's arrival banished
that frigid and restrained atmos-
Lhere from the court room at once.
His informality and pleasant manner
in discussing cases with lawyers and
witnesses made litigants and repre-
sentatives in trials feel at ease, and
the sombre surroundings of the trial
room actually seemed to brighten up
as though sunshine had been let in
through the windows.
Had it not been for the fact that
his honor wore his judicial robes and
that the courtroom furniture and
fittings were part of the scene, the
trial of cases before him might have
been taken for an impartial and
friendly discussion, free from re-
straint, due to the elevation or rank
of one of the participants.
Yet with it all he combines digni-
ty that in no way sacrifices the con-
ception in mind eye among laymen
and members of the bar and bench
of what Judge, in his outward de-
pertinent, should stand for.
Chief among the beneficiaries of
the jurist's friendly style of conduct
ing trials, have been the lawyers.
Everyone familiar with court room
procedure knows how much the pre-
siding judges attitude influences
lawyers conduct of case. Under
the informal spell of Judge Howe's
presence lawyers in cases before him
astonished even themselves with the
lack of restraint and freedom with
which they brought out their cases.
Il have been shamefully abused
during my twenty years as member
of the bar practicing before Judges"
said Judge Howe, land | made up
my mind that if | was ever elevated
to the bench | would not tolerate
such conduct on my own part.
In some instances l have known
young lawyers, at the very stage
when they needed the most encour-
agement, to go into court and be so
abused that in some cases they have
gone out of the courtroom never to
return.
II always criticised the courts
when | was a practicing attorney,
and have been the victim of some
such shameful treatment. A Judge
| ~, ,0,,y oln,,ll H. A.