The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-05-25
JUDGE WHEELER CHIEF JUSTICE
 AFTER AUG. s
Connecticut Judges Have
 Held Many Offices of Public Trust.

A number of changes announced in the state and county judiciary be- tween now and the first of 1921 is causing considerable discussion throughout the legal fraternity of the state, and, coupled with the efforts ot secure an increase in the number of judges in the Superior Court, creates a situation which is exciting the usual placidity of the even tenor of the ways of the state bar.
 Chief Justice Samuel O. Prentice will retire on August and his retire rlent will deprive the state judiciary of one of it's most efficient intelle@s8 Justice Prentice was born in North Stoning1ton on August 8, 1850, and, after graduating from the public and high schools he matriculated at Yale Unl- versity in 1873. graduating with a de- gree of bachelor of arts. In 1875 ne was awarded an ILL. B. degree, and was made master of arts in 1908. In 1913 he was doubly honored by the degree of IL. D. from Yale University and Trinity College of Hartford, the highest honor in the gift of the un1- versity. Admitted to the bar in 1873 he began the practice of law in Hart ford and in 1876 became a member of the legal firm of Johnson & Prem tice, remaining with the firm until it's dissolution in 1889. He was cor poration counsel for the city of Hart ford from 1882 to 1889 when he was appointed executive secretary to Gov. Morgan G. Bu1keley. In 1889 he be- came a judge of the Superior Court and on October 1. 1901, he become justice of the state Supreme Court of Errors, becoming chief justice in 1913. In addition to his standing in the legal profession in the state, Jus tice Prentice has a high reputation in the educational field, having been in- structor in pleading in the Yale Uni versity Law School from 1896 to 1899, and professor of pleading from 1901 to 1915. He has been president of the Hartford public library since 1895 and the Watkinson library in Hartford since 1908. Although Jus tice Prentice now makes his home in Hartford his many years as a mem Der of the Superior and Supreme Court benches and his connection as instructor and professor at Yale Uni versity makes him almost as well known here as in the Capitol City, and his retirement from the bench will be regretted by the host of friends he has made throughout the state. Although he has never sought place in the political linn elight, Judge Prentice is a staunch Republi- of the old school and a firm up holder of the dogma and principles of that party.
 The vacancy as chief justice will be filled by the promotion of Justice George W. Wheeler to that office from the place he already occupies on the supreme court bench Judge Wheeler was born in WOodville Miss, Decem- Der 1, 1860. He graduated from Hack ensaok academy in Hackensack, N. J., in 1876; Williston seminary in East Hampton, Mass, in 1877; was awarded a degree of bachelor of arts by Yale univ ersity in 1881, was made an IAI4. B. in 1883. He began his practice of law at Bridgeport in 1883 in the law firm of Wheeler and Curtiss and con tnued in the firm until 1893. He was city attorney for Bridgeport from 1890 to 1892 He was made a, judge of the superior court February 2S, 1893. On September 8, 1910, he was elevated to the supreme court bench and on Au- gust will become chief justice. He is a member of the Democratic party.
 Judge Howard J. Curtiss, who will on August be elevated to the su- prerne court bench to complete the necessary number of justices, became a member of the superior court judi ciary in 19O7 and his term in the su perior court does not expire until 1925 so a vacancy is left in the med1ary count by his promotion.
 This vacancy in the superior court personnel will ibe filled by the promo ton of Judge Isaac Wolfe, at present judge of the New Haven court of com mon pleas.
 On December 15, Judge Donald T. Warner, one of the oldest and best 1 known members of the superior court bench, will retire. Judge Warner was born at Salisbury, Conn.,, on Decem- Der 15, 1850, and after graduating from the public and high sch hools there he graduated from Trinity college, Hart | ford, with degree of bachelor of arts. In 1892 Trinity college conferred an honorary degree of master of arts on him. Admitted to the bar in 1873, he l was in partnership with Donald J. 1 Warner until 1881. He then pracIceo alone until 1891, when he formed the firm of Warner and Landon. He was states attorney for Litchfield county
 from 1896 to 1917, and on March 15, l1917, was appointed a judge of the su- iperior court. Judge Warner has been president of the Lakeville Water com lpany treasurer of the Salisbury Cut lery company; postmaster of Salisbury from 1874 to 1885; judge of probate fol the district of Salisbury from 1885 te f1917: member of the state senate from 1895 to 1899; was a member of the con Stitutiona1 convention in 1902. In los
 ing Judge Warner the onnecd1cut Jul
 dietary will lose a man who, thougf
 his term of office has been short, has
 gained a high reputation for his lega
 knowledge, judgt1n ent and fairness. ADNIETFE HEDn