The Denver Jewish news., 1920-09-01
Jews on English Bench

Omitting minor judicial positions
filled by such worthless as the various
Jewish Lord Mayors, who have dis
pensed justice in rhe city. Mr.. sym
mons. the London Police Magistrate,
and Mr.. Emanuel, X. c., Recorder OF
Notwithstanding no account of these
offices. the Earl of Reading is the
third great Jew to fill the post OF
Judge in this country, and the supreme
office which he fills marks him out as
the greatest of the three How long
he will continue TO exercise judicial
functions it is difficult TO say, for 1t
is rumored that he is designated to be
Viscount Grey's successor at Washing
ton. Exalted as the position is which
Lord Reading fills. if he could have
had his wish he would have preferred
to be Lord Chancellor. Formerly Jews
were expressly inhibited from holding
such office by the term of the Jewish
Relief Act of 1858. But the Promis-
sorry Oaths Act of 1871, by repeating
the former Act, entitled any Jew TO
become Keeper of the Kings conscience.
The only disability attaching to Jew
ish holder of the Office would relate
to the exercise of the Chancellor's &C.
clesastical patronage.
No more brilliant judge has ever sat
on the English bench than Sir George
Jessel who. by curious irony of cir
cumstances for Jew, became Master
of the Rolls in succession to LORD
I,omilly His legal promotion was
nothing like so rapid as that of Rufus
Isaacs. Having been called to the bar
in 1917. he did not become Queens
Counsel till eighteen years later, Lord
Westbury having refused him silk
when first he applied for it. He always
regarded this refusal as n blessing in
disguise, because the postponement Of
the honor enabled him to acquire
more minute knowledge of chancery
practice than he would otherwise have
attained to. Jessel brought to the prac-
lice of the bar the aptitudes of man
of business, logical faculty sharpened
by severe discipline. and n knowledge
of English law which was as wide rs
it was profound. His mind was verit-
able magazine of case-law. His knowl-
edge of affairs was extraordinarily
wide and accurate; his apprehension
was so quick that it seemed like intui-
tion. He had made up his mind on n
case almost as soon as it Opeped. and
being impatient of unnecessary argu-
ment he showed it in manner that
was somewhat brusque. He never re-
served judgment. and his judgments
were scarcely ever reversed. He had
great self-confidence. As he once said.
L may be wrong. and sometimes am,
but I never have any doubts He
described Lord Eldon as the dubita-
tive Chancellor 1t was Jessel's distinc-
tion that he was at the same time one
of the most erudite of case lawyers
and one of the most courageous of
Judges in handling authorities. He
was law-making judge whose deci-
sions soon grew to be taken as legal
precedents precedents which are
constantly being quoted even to this
day.
The other great predecessor of LorN
Reading on the English bench was
Arthur Cohen, X. c.. whose life has re-
Gently been compiled by his daughter.
The judicial post which he held was
that of Judge of the Cinque Ports.
After studying in Germany, he pre-
ceeded to Cambridge. But 1t was no
easy matter in those days to gain ad-
mission into the colleges. He tried
one after another and was refused adj
mission. Only thru the influence of
Prince Albert was he ultimately admit
ted to Magdalen, where he had n bril-
liant career. coming out fifth wrangler
in the mathematical tripos. besides he
President of the Cambridge Union. The
mathematical successes of Cohen and
Jessel at the University, and the ex-
perience in figures which the present
Lord Chief Justice acquired on the
Stock Exchange, suggests the very in
teresting question whether the mathe-
matical mind is the kind of ability that
best makes for success in the law.
Cohen himself thought not, and he
pointed to the fact that such eminent
lawyers as Lord Davey and Lord
Bowen were distinguished, not for their
mathematical. but for their classical.
scholarship. Jacob Valley. it will be
remembered. was a political economist.
Jessel considerable was good
Hebrew scholar-that centuries Of Jew
dence. as set forth in the books of the