Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-14
ROTARY MEETING
Chief Justice Cornish Gives
Enlightening Address On
1.-THE Machinery of Our Jul
dicial System"-Elks' Min
strles Selections Comprise
Program of Entertainment
Committee

The facts which the average man
does not know concerning the courts
OF Maine and especially about the
supreme judicial court We're brought
out in a most enlightening and mas
terly address given by Chief Justice
Leslie &. Cornish. Il member of the
Augusta Rotary club, at the Friday
evening meeting of the club at the
Augusta house The subject of his
address was "The Machinery of Our
judicial System in Maine" and il
proved to be n most interesting di-
gest OF just the points which the
layman should know about the court
systems Chief Justice Cornish held
the close interest Of his Rotary audi
ence, who manifested their appre-
citation by hearty applause and a
rising vote of thanks.
With an attendance OF 81 Of the
liz members of the club aud many
visitors and with very enjoyable
speaking and entertainment pro-
gram, the session was one Of espec-
ial attraction. Gems from the Eiks'
Minstrels by chorus Of II voices
and under the direction OF Rotarian
Arthur \. Soule, comprised the pro-
gram OF the committee on entertain
ment. Following the sumptuous Ro-
tartan dinner served at the poening
OF the meeting, matters of business
were brought up for action. The
session was presided over by the
president. Ivan Lang.
The report of the nominating com =
mittee of the club was given by Ro-
tartan Blaine s. .Viles. showing the
following nominated to be voted
upon at the annual meeting on Fri
day evening, June 10: For presi-
dent, Elmer r. Newbert: for secre-
tary, George S. Macomber; for treas
urer, Hiram l.. Pishon; for the six
directors: Leslie G. Cornish, Dwight
l.. Higgins, Nelson Gordon, Harold
L. Allan, Harry ?. Lowell and Lewis
A. Burleigh.
Chief Justice Cornish's Address
The probate courts were first re-
ferred to by Chief Justice Cornish in
his address. He stated that Judge
Harold f. Cook is Judge OF that
court in kennebec county, that court
attending to estates. 1t is said that
every 25 years all of the property in
the county goes through the probate
courts.
Secondly, there are the municipal
courts and of the Augusta court the
presiding officer is Judge Robert A.
Cony. These are important courts
and have much to do with the keep
Ing Of peace and order.
In 1879 the trainers of the constitu-
ZION of Maine met at Portland and
provided for the supreme judicial
court and it was established by an
act passed by the Legislature of 1920
There were then three justices. This
was a separate system from the dis
trict courts.
There are now eight justices of the
supreme judicial court of Maine and
a terms of court for the trial of cas-
ss are held each year. Some coun-
ties IN the State have two terms,
some have three terms, and Aroos-
took county has four terms. The as
signment of the justices to these
terms is made at the first of each
year by the chief justice. The chief
justice and the senior associate jus
tice each preside over six terms.
These are called nisi prius terms, the
Latin terms meaning unless before"
indicating that unless before that
time some judge should go into the
county where the atcion takes place.
Civil, criminal, divorce and naturali-
sation cases come before the court.
These are terms with jury.
At this point, the chief justice ad-
visced any man when drawn on jury
not to try to get excused from serv-
ing, for if men do get excused the
courts are going to fail here and in
every other state from lack of good
Jurors. He said that he has no fault
to find with jury trials, that the jur-
ofs endeavor and intend to be just
and follow the law and evidence in
the cases.
The court of equity is always open
and has no terms. In some states,
this is a different court from the SUI
preme court. In these courts, bills Of
equity are heard. Bills of equity. act