Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1920-04-21
LEVI BANCROFT To
Be CIRCUIT JUDGE
APPOINTMENT MADE BY
GOV. Philip LAST FRI
DAY-CAPABLE LAWYER.

Levi H. Bancroft of Richland Center
was appointed circuit judge to fill the
vacancy in the fifth district by the
death Of Hon. Geo Clementson. The
appointment was made known by
/ GOV. Philip last Thursday afternoon.
A regular election will be held April
1921 and the successful candidate will
take Office the following June to fill
the unexpired term.
Following is a condensed biogra-
ply of Judge Bancroft:
Born at Bear Greek, Sank county.
! Dec. &c, 1861.
Graduated from Wisconsin law
school in 1884 with degree of L. L. B.
Began practice in Richland Center.
j District attorney and probate Judge
OF Richland county.
4 Chairman Republican state commit
! tee in 1903
Member of assembly for four years
/ beginning 1906 Speaker 1909
! Judge Advocate General Wisconsin
National Guard with rank of Colonel.
1903.
Attorney General in 1910.
Widely known as a lawyer of merit.
i VI. IL,
! who was sitting at Richland Center
when the announcement of the an
! pointment of Judge Bancroft came.
1 spoke as follows:
A few weeks ago we were shocked
and deeply grieved to learn of the
death of the able jurist who had serv-
ed the people of this state for over 81
4 years as circuit judge of this circuit.
I Judge Clementson by his industry.
ability, learning, honesty and fearless
ness had established and enioyed
throughout the state of Wisconsin
reputation as citizen, lawyer and
Jur1st that was SECOND to none other.
His death occasioned a void and an
irreparable loss to this community.
and it is indeed a heavy loss to the
people of this state.
/ However, the affairs of mankind
the affairs of this world of ours. are
not stayed or halted by the death of
any individual, however great how
/ ever useful. While the matter of
| tunctloning his successor is being pre-
pared and being developed to carry on
the task after the departure of the
master. And SO with the administra-
| ton OF justice, under a great Judge,
as was Judge ClementsOn, there nat
urally has developed able LAWYERS.
His industry, his honesty, his fear
lessness, his sense of justice afforded
/ examples and models which were
naturally reflected in the LAWYERS
/ who practised and have been practis-
ing before him. Unconsciously a Bar
will adapt itself to and will adopt the
habits and virtues of an able leader
on the bench. And so, fortunately for
the people of this circuit and of the
state, it was not a difficult matter for
the governor of this state promptly to
! find and select an able and efficient
/ successor.
1t takes but a glance through the
pages Of the printed calendar of this
court to appreciate whom the people
OF this community, because Of direct
personal interest and concern in liti-
cation pending at this term, regarded
as best qualified to represent them in
the trial or trials of their litigation.
In an experience that has carried me
into many of the counties of this
| state during the past eight years as
a judge and some years prior to that
as practising attorney, | have new
er yet seen a court calendar in which
one lawyer-practising alone, without
association OF partnership-has APP
peared in SO great proportion of the
cases noticed for trial That to me
i seems a practical and most convinc-
ing demonstration of the high esteem
and regard which the people of this
county have for the professional at
tainments of the able lawyer who has
been appointed as we were informed
on yesterday afternoon to succeed
Judge Clementson.
Not alone Judge Bancroft, but the
governor as well as the people of this
state and more directly of course the
people of this circuit, are to be CON
i graduated upon the wisdom of the Sc
lection that was made yesterday by
Governor Phillip.
Whatever may have been our be-
liefs or parties or opinions in rela-
ton to political propositions and leg
islative or executive offices, there can
4 be no doubt, there certainly is no
doubt in my mind that the selection
of Judge Bancroft places at the ser
vice of the people of this circuit the
ability and learning and experience,
professional attachments, courage,
fearlessness, honesty and industry OF
man who has not been wanting for
1 retainers and who, until now, in the
nature of a lawyers work, could
function merely as the advocate for
one of the interested parties instead
of serving all as he will hereafter in
the furtherance of justice.
| The opportunity which this affords
me to publicly congratulate Judge
Bancroft and to welcome him in be-
/ half of the circuit judges of this
state into the service of the people of
wisconsin as circuit judge is deep
ly appreciated by me; and it is my
sincere wish that he may be enter
ing upon judicial career that will be
as splendid, as pleasant, and as val
liable to the people of Wisconsin as
was that of his illustrious and beloved
predecessor.