The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-01-11
linn PLEADS FOR
CLEAN JUDICIARY
Superior Judge. Sets Forth Re-
ouirements for Ideal Jurist
Thanks the Bar

Judge Bert Linn, of Prosser, last
Monday stepped down from the bench
and again assumed his place is the list
of Benton County's practicing attor-
neys. Judge Linn returns from the
bench to the bar not in answer to any
mandate of the people, but Of his own
volition. Had he been candidate for
reelection he undoubtedly would have
been continued in Office.
While holding court in Pasco last
week Judge Linn took occasion to
thank the members Of the Franklin
county bar and to set forth his views
on the qualifications Of judge. His
address follows:
It is not necessary for me to ap-
praise you of the fact that change in
the personnel of this bench will soon
be made. As this is my last official Wis
it among you, I feel that I should take
advantage of the occasion to express
my deep appreciation of the uniform
kindness and courtesy which has been
extended to me mot only by the men,
bers Of the bar, but by all those who
have been connected with the court.
feel that it might be proper for
me to express at this time some of
the ideas which have occurred to me
from time to time as to the qualifica-
lions which judge should possess. I
am of the opinion that a man who oc-
cupies the position of judge should be,
first, a man of high moral character,
second, a man of unquestioned honesty
and integrity, third, he should be alb
solutely fearless, fourth, he should be
skilled in the science of Jurisprudence,
or in palmer language, he should be
learned in the law, and, fifth, he should
be fit in temperament and experienced
insthe motives and affairs of men. !
have said first that he should be a
man of high moral character, because
/. believe that as a paramount consid-
Grafton, above and beyond everything
else, the people of this country have a
right to know that the courts of the
country are clean. 1t is of the highest
Importance that the judiciary be and
remain unsullied and that it have en-
tangling alliances with none. I have
said that the judge should be man of
unquestioned honesty; I have used this
expression not only because it begets
confidence, but 1 feel that a man of
that character is true in all the rela-
tionships of life; that he is true even
unto himself, and if he be true to him.
self, then, as Shakespeare says, "It
follows as the night the day, he car
be false to no man."
A judge should be absolutely fear.
less. Amid conflicting contentious, OF
the passions of the hour, the court
should be the last institution to be
swept off it's feet. I do not mean by
this that courts should not be progress.
i've, but do mean that progress by
our courts should at all times 60 hanG
in hand with the protection and con.
servation both of human and property
rights. To this end judge should ad
minister justice fearlessly and impair
TALLY, for if all else fails it may be
that the people of this country must
depend upon the justice, integrity ane
patriotic spirit of our courts to pre-
serve the liberties of our country.
do not think that anyone will gainsa!
the fact that a Judge should be learned
in the law. Under our constitution
and form of government, it is the du
ty of the judiciary to expound and t,
declare the law, and if this be so i
must of necessity follow that til,