Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-04-18
DAYS Of LEGAL
QUACK ARE CONE
MARSHALL SAYS
Kansas Supreme Court JUS
tiCe Hands Down a No.
table Decision in Dis
barring Attorney Macy.
tBy The Associated rress.)


Topeka, Kans., April 1.-THE
legal profession is one of great re-
sponsibility and calls for a code of
ethics of the highest caliber The
days of the shyster and legal quack
are gone. A lawyer should remem
Der that he appears in court not
merely as an advocate for his client
but as a person trusted and author
lied by the state to assist the court
in determining what is right be-
tween the parties before it.
These are statements contained
in the opinion written by John II.
Marshall, justice of the Kansas SUI
preme court. in it's decision handed
down recently, disbarring Fred s.
Macy, formerly of Liberal and of
Hutchinson Marshall's opinion
according to Topeka attorneys, con-
stitutes one of the finest codes of
ethics ever written for the legal
profession in Kansas. 1t follows,
in part:
Evils of Strong Drink.
THE time was when u lawyer
could appear in court in an intoXi-
Gated condition and not subject
himself to public censure. but that
time has passed Any one at this
time in this state that uses intoM-
eating liquor to the extent of pro-
ducing intoxication is censured;
generally no man can hold any re-
sponsible position in any worthy
enterprise and use intoxicating
liquors to excess If any officer in
this state. not subject to impeach-
ment, shall be in any public place
in a state of intoxication produced
by strong drink voluntarily taken,
he may be removed from oIilce.
In such a condition of society. a
lawyer who appears in court 10
conduct litigation in which he IS
interested and in such Il state or
intoXiCation that the court is un'
able to proceed with that litigation,
should not ask the state to con-
tinue his authority to practise law.
An Attorneys Duty.
1T is an attorneys duty TO pro-
tect the rights of his client, but II
is likewise an attorneys duty TO
refrain from doing an Intentional
wrong ITO the adverse party, In
the United States of America the
attorney at law occupies peculiar
and very important position. Be
cause of his integrity, his ability
and his learning, he is often called
upon to administer the executive
departments OF government. and
he fills a large place in all our leg
islative bodies. He has taken a
most important part in framing
our form of government ana IN
guiding its growth and develop
ment. Possible democratic govern
ment can not long exist without
strong, able. honest, conscientious
and patriotic bar. If a lawyer Is
not honest. if he is not consclen-
tious or if he is not patriotic, ne IS
not fit to represent others IN the
court room. Justice is administered
almost wholly b. and through law
yers. The administration of justice
is one of the highest If not the
highest of government functions.
An attorney at law in the prepa-
ration and trial Of an action III
court represents his client but he
does more than that---he Is there,
not only as an advocate. but also
as a person trusted and authorized
by the state to assist the court in
determining what is right between
the parties before it. He can not
excuse himself by saying that his
duty to his client demands that he
adopt line of conduct detrimental
to the interests of the public.
The States Interest.
The state is vitality Interested In
seeing that justice Is done and goes
to great expense and provides e!ab-
crate machinery for that part of It's
governmental work. If attorneys
at law are permitted to resort to
INSCRIPTIONS practice for the pro
lection Of the supposed rights OF
their clients. one of the purposes
of the state will be defeated, its
foundations will crumble and life,
liberty and happiness will be at
the mercy of lawyers who care for
nothing except the advantage of
their clients. The integrity of the
courts and OF all who assist in their
work must he preserved. or the
practice Of law, as it is now known,
will cease.