The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-12-14
DENIES
\. limiting JOBBERY
Resignation Of Chief Justice and
His Statements Regarding
" 1t Cause Discussion ".

/
Chief Justice A. G. M. Robertson 3
resignation and frank statements he
has made disappearing Of the policy
followed by the Washington admins.
tration in making judicial appointments
were topics that engaged the interest
of the legal fraternity in Honolulu yes.
terday, but no steps had been taken
last night by political bodies or by the
bar association to act In the matter Of
nominating successor, though it is ex.
pected that the new appointment win
be announced from Washington within
the next two weeks. -..
| In forwarding his resignation to Pres.
ident Wilson Monday afternoon Judge
Robertson asked to have It take effect
by December 30. II was suggested that
press of war work at Washington or
other matters might cause the appoint.
ment TO be delayed so that n successor
could not be named in the time fixed in
Judge Robertson resignation. Asked
IL he would continue TO serve in the
event Of such delay, Judge Robertson
answered, 81 suppose So" but he ex-
pressed the belief that successor
would be named before the month is
| over. a5fa O..
criticizes Report
| In speaking of matters in connection
| with his resignation last night Judge
Robertson criticized q 'purported re.
! port of statements he had made, pub.
lished in the afternoon newspaper. He
declared that a wrong impression had
been given in the report. Il
| An important factor that led TO his
action he said was the present admin
istration's policy Of making judicial APP
| pointments. "Time was, - his state.
ment saws, when q judicial position
in this Territory, especially one on the
supreme bench, could properly be re.
| garded as a high honor, but that time
ceased when judicial appointments were
| dragged into politics The shabby
treatment which the administration ac-
corded Judge Dole stauls as a warning
to all that no appreciation OF gratitude
need be expected for even life long ser.
vice and devotion TO the public good"
| Judge Robertson particularly eriti.
cized the manner in which the report
Of his statement had been presented to
the public. A heading stated the chief
justice in resigning "hinted at politi-
cal jobbery." u
Did No limiting ''
| "Tbe headline to the article in ques-
tion," Judge Robertson said in writ
| ten statement, ais entirely misleading.
1 limited at no political iobbery or Job
berry Of any kind. had in mind only
| facts of common knowledge. Those are
that the Judges terms are short-only
four years, and the chances are. AS
Judges Perry, DeBolt, COOPER and Par
sons, as wen as Judge Dole, can verify,
that unless one is in accord with the
national administration, he win not be
reappointed however. satisfactory his
work on the bench NAV have been. The
instances of the reappointment of Judge
Whitney and myself are exceptions
which merely prove the rule.
"The existing conditions with re.
spect to judicial appointments are per.
fectly wen understood. There is no
need of rhiuting' at anything, much
less at 'iobhery.'
H|One thing the Star. Bulletin neg
lected to say was that have enjoyed
my experience on the bench very much
and greatly regret that circumstances
|
for me to resign at this time"
To Resume Practise
Judge Robertson 3 disapproval of the
administration s policy is but a single
factor entering into the reasons for his
action. He stated that "a combination
of circumstances led him to quit the
bench. but he was unwilling to go into
any other reasons than those he spoke
Of He said that it is his intention
to return to private practise, but he
was not willing to make public any
thing in this connection now or to
state what new affiliations he might be
considering. -,.
In political circles question is
whether or not Judge Robertson 3 sue
cessor will be Democrat. Associate
Justice James L. Coke is said to be in
lne for the vacancy created, as well
as Associate Justice r. p. Quarles and
Circuit Judge Clarence w. Ashford s
name has been mentioned.
Former United States Judge Charles
+. Clemens, who has also been men.
toned as n possible successor. has stat
ed that 1t is impossible for him to con
slider permitting his name to be men
toned.
Concerning Judge Robertson's future
activities, it has been urged that he
would be the logical man to fill place
on the board of trustees for the Bishop
estate, position over which there
has been some conflict of opinion in
court. Delegate Kuhio had been sug.
gested as trustee, but rs he is obliged
to be in Washington so much of the
time, it is contended by some that some
other should be. named.