Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-05-18

alone the sense Of personal bcrcavc.
ncnt which is so deeply felt by the
MciuuCrS of the Bar. but Il Just and
at estimate Of his life. his character
and his laborS as thcy are known
1ul esteemed by chose intimately as.
0cia'cd with him.
Judge Ike In was so we'll and ia
rurahlN known to all the members OF
his honorable Court feel | am
justified III saying so ancctionatcly
known, that it would be out of
pace, certainly supcriuouS.-~for me
- give an extended sketch Of his
life as Il man and his career as Il
Judge.
Judge Keith was by birth and ma.
vC ability far above the average.
lie vas related to Chief Justice Mar
@h3 | and tho Randoluh5 of Virginia.
anu inherited the abilities Of his dis
tinHu she'd ancestors III no "cap
jcgr"r. He did not. however. rely
II ancestry, but on merit. for success.
KS success in life was due TO his
"%2ltrd character. native abilities.
Industry, fixed convict ons and wide
learning. lie had Il NINA CT Won
'orul grasp and great iirmucsa O.
,rrision. He came 10 the center OF
- ca~c rs Il by intuition. lie rcas-
.nri in straight line from the
prem 90 to the rouclu ion. Tho "a
pidity. with which his mind solved
legal prci}lrm@ was "}lro-t marvolous.
J1d@H EcitD commenced the nr;.c-
ice Of The law in 1&EN, at the Mar
rc"tcn Har. Il Bar untn@ TO- the
,aruiun and oHdltnd character of il
mrmncT@. but scarcely hail he hvo.I
admitted to the Bar before The bu@lc
3 = t'y,4r,.t,,,v,,.,s
! H&m to war.
! lie >rr'cd III the NGNirioratn Army
! fer four years. He was n mcmhcr
! - ifirkctts famous Hlacl, IIor=o
|"Car n Germany that acted q" oDr
occasion ~ the guido and courier of
! rn' ct =. tx" "n' To- 9notl'Nr q s,a-
! ION rs The Guide and coulter VI
<louaW0ll Jackson, He wa" n"r*rN-
.n.lE acrua ntol with both 't tha"a
ifstiu"IiShod Confederate Generals.
and was fond OF relating his personal
~rmiriS, cmc"S OF them.
Iua"o N"ith never held any wolff.
i"ni Office Savc that Of member OF the
/ ..r9i; allure OF Nir. MIA for ono term.
. IN $50 he was elected Judge of the
. Eleventh Judicial Circuit. He quail
: iici as .Iud"" OF said Circuit in 1870
ani served until the end Of $50 /.
! when he became Judge and President
ut the Supreme Court of Appeals OF
! Y rginia At the time Of his first
elevation to The bench he was the
/ Youngest Circuit judge in Virginia.
! In 1898 he qualified. as above
I stated, judge CT the Supreme Court
! e ADncals, of tho State for Il term
! ui twelve years. and upon the CXpira-
, SION OF his first term he was unani-
Z ,gn,,A.lr rnn1npt ,l ha ,nnnn,l
! II" remained Judge and Pres dent Of
! the Supreme Court until he voluntar-
lily resigned June. 1916. He served
I .vcutr-iour years rs nisi prius Judge
! and iwcnty.onc years ana some
months as President and Judge of
! The Court OF Appeals Of Virginia.
In other words he wore the judicial
c~m nc for nearly forty-siN years, ana
Hnally laid il aside with honor to
himself. his profession and his coun-
try, and then only when the in.
{ tirmitics of old age began ia cry
aloud for repose."
! II is as n Judge, however, that he
" II be hest known, respected, adj
mired, loved and rcmcmbcrcd,-as
Judge ana President of the highest
court of his State for nearly quar-
ter of n century. He will live in the
judicial annals Of his State for CEN
turtles to come; and in other juris-
ctions. State ana Federal, where
his opinions will be studied, respect
ed, quoted and admired.
Excluding per curiam judgments,
Judge Keith delivered, while on the
! supreme Court or Appeals or Viz
gin Il, six hundred and scvcnty.scvcn
| written opinions, gave written con
carrin@ OPINIONS III iwehty'ohc andl-
conan cases, ana written dissent hS
Opinions III lWchtN-SlN eases. IhcSe
NhhiiShed opinions conslitutc SUP
J <,ah'l"l ana Va'nan'c cohIrihut On 10
. the exposition Oh our laws.
ne was man OF Striklhg person,
. AMY great nlShll! OF characlcr ana
! ma" the SheS' conception OF the
! rAa tea Gaining OF Jud&e: TIC was
] III Fer@oh"l appearance ana III acloh
| every men Judge ne ana nov
| 'h'l'h 'Ia' luu*o shoeld pcrinil
,,,'>,'. ~, ~ aol,' '"' law law, "n"
| ~ ,r,,., ' o. my - -, ~, ;" :
| 20 No >.n;l. wv ~" g.