The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-02

Judges ueGraHenrfed and Brown had each served upon the court of appeals before becoming members of the su- preme court. Judge George Goldth- waite became a circuit judge after leaving the supreme court. Crenshaw 1 a chancellor and Sharpe judge of the city court. BECAME GOVERNOR The following supreme court judges became governor of the state: c. c. Clay. John Gayle and Henry Collier; while c. C. Clay and George Gold thwaite became United States senators also. The surviving ex-members of the court are Thomas w. Coleman, R. W. Walker, s. D. Weawley. John R. Ty- son, N. D. Denson A. A. Evans. Ed ward deGraffenried and James J. May field.
 It should also be noted that the peo- pie of Alabama have. as a rule, been free from sectionalism or partisanship in the selection of the members of their highest court Hitchcock and both Of the Goldthwaites were from New England Peck and Gibbons from New York. and Manning from New Jersey; while Hopkins. Chiffon. Thornton. Or mond. R. w. Walker. and perhaps others. though Whigs, were selected by democratic governors or legisla- lures, and Bric1e1l. the first demo- cratic member of tn, court after Gre construction" was appointed by a re- publican governor.
 Another incident worthy of note is the fact that when Judge Stone was first elected a member of the court by the legislature. in the sos. Brickell, Clopton and others were his opponents, and on the final ballot Stone was elect- ed over Brickell by the narrow margin of two votes. and when Judge Stone was replaced upon the court after the war Brickell was chief justice and |when Brickell resigned and Stone was appointed to succeed him, Clopton was appointed an associate to succeed Judge Stone. , Again. c. C. Clay, first chief justice, resigned from the court in 1923 subse- quently becoming congressman, gov ernor and senator. and in 1843, upon the resignation of Henry Goldthwaite who resigned in order to run for Con- gress from the Mobile district, was re- laced upon the bench and Henry Gold thwaite defeated him before the next legislature. The resul. was that, after having filled practically every high of fee in the state. and being replaced where he started. he was subsequently, defeated.
 The result was not due. however to the unpopularitv of Governor Clay, but to the fact. no doubt. that having been in politics for twenty years he was not at well qualified for the office as Judge Goldthwaite. who had been constantly on the bench for years. with the ex- ception of the few months he spent in prosecuting his canvass for Congress.
 TENURE OF OFFICE While Alabama has had twenty chief justices during the past 100 years, the service of many of them has been quite brief. It seems that the salary was SC small. at least during the first half of the century. that most of them, after attaining the position. retired in crder to practice law or run for of fees less onerous ana laborious. Lips comb, Collier and A. J. Walker are the only chief justices who served over two or three years. during the first half of the century the others serving only one or two years. while Judge George Goldthwaite occupied the office
 but thirteen days. On the other hand Brickell, Stone and T. N. Mcclellan consumed, as chief Justices. the greater part of the last half of the century. Judge Stone served the longest period Of any member of the court having served twenty-four years. six years before and nearly eighteen years after the war, though | not counting the service he rendered Lefore the war. his last period was the longest continuous service, not withstanding he was 66 years of age when coming on the bench the last time. Thomas N. Mcclellan comes next in length of service. as he served continuously as associate and chief justice from 1889 to February. 1906
 It is also a remarkable fact that out cf the twenty chief justices the state has had. George w. Stone and Thomas N Mcclellan were the only two who died in judicial harness. and of the great number of associate Justices we have had H. Goldthwaite. Thomas J. Judge. Amos R. Manning David Clop- ton and R. IT S'-,-nson seem to have been the only associates who died while on the bench.
 Mention should also be made of the associates who serl ed period of ap- proximately ten wears or longer. and whose work is lasting and efficient and who are John J. Ormond Henry Goldthwaite. Henderson NJ. Somerville David Clopton. Thomss w. Coleman, Jonathan Haralson. Thomas c. Me- Cleilan I T. Mess.a,s A n cavre and Ormond Somerville.
 JEALOUS OF RIGHTS
 While the people have been jeaI-
 ous of their rights as to the selec-
 tion Of Judges. the privilege has
 seldom been abused.
 The people not only disapproved the life tenure. but have. for the last fifty two years. eSacted the right to vote directly for their judk s. Not only was this the case under the constitutions If 1887 and 1875 nut the Constitutional Convention of 1901. composed of 15p members. over three-ffths of same he- :nr lawyers. curtailed the arrointivs power in case of vacancies from the unexpired term to the next general election occurring more than six months after the vacancy
 On the other hand. however they have been most patriotic and conserv- ative In dealing with the Judiciary and have not been swept off their feet by