Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-10-26
RESOLUTIONS
! ARE ADOPTED
On Death of Justice Bergen
Action by County Bar
Association
NEW BRUNSWICK. Oct. 26:

NI3W Oct. 20
Ex-Yhdge Il. w. Hicks. of this city,
~eh5Ifn.6E of the committee chosen
blythe Middlesex County Bar Asso-
ciftion to prepare a minute on the
lRath of Judge James j. Bergen, was
gubmitted before the county court
Il his morning and was unanimously
eadopted. Judge John p. kirkpatrick
in ordering the minute spread on
the records of the circuit court said
the death of Judge Bergen vas a sad
blow to the courts of the county,
and meant the loss of a valuable
servant to the state and a warm
friend to himself.
The minute follows:
"On October 20, 1928, the honora-
bic James j. Bergen, a justice of the
supreme court of the State of New
Jersey, assigned to the fifth judicial
district embracing all Middlesex and
Union counties, passed away at a
goodly age and at the height of his
ability as a jnrist.
He was admitted to the bar at
the age of twenty-one years. He
became one of the leaders of the
profession in the state and with
great ability performed successfully
the duties of the prosecutor of the
PiCdOy VIC CAluliNNiAOL INV JNHhASC -
the supreme court.
THE years which he was privi-
legged to enjoy added to his ability as
a lawyer and a judge, and to the
esteem in which he was held by the
people of this state.
Notwithstanding the demand
which his extensive practice and Ia
ter duties of this Office made upon his
time and energy, he as a good citizen
gave of his ability to the public,
Serving the people of his own COM
munity as a own committeeman and
as a director of their financial in
stitutions and the state as a menu
Der of the general assembly for four
terms, during two of which he held
the position Of speaker.
"Alembers of the Bar Association
of the County of Middlesex, who were
privileged to know him intimately,
not ONLY realize the loss to the state
by his death. but as individuals feel
the loss of a personal friend and
kindly a1visor.
This association joins with the
surviving members of the supreme
court, Justice I,ergen's other as
s~ociates in the Court of Errors and
Appeals, and wan the members of
The bar in other counties, in the OK
pressions OF grief which were heard
throughout the whole state when
news of his sudden death became
anown and in the many kindly ex-
5rcssions of admiration for his abil-
Is. honesty and integrity as a judge.
and his work as a maj and a citizen.
1T is requested that this resolution
passed at q special meeting of the
s%sociation be entered in the min
utcs of Tie circuit court of this u
sy, and that a copy thereof be for
Warded to those who have lost a be-
loved husband and an honored
iather."
In ordering that the minute be
placed on the circuit court record,
-Jl,dge Kirkpatrick said:
This tribute will be spread at
length upon the minutes of the cir
! cult court. 1t is indeed fitting that
this court should take this action at
this time. To those who knew Judge
Bergen, his death Is indeed a sad
blow. Particularly is it a sad blow
to me in my capacity as judge. I
learned to depend upon Judge Ber-
gen, and to follow his guiding hand
and wisdom as supreme court judge.
The state of New Jersey has lost a
valued servant and this court has
lost a distinguished jurist. Let this
resolution be spread in full in the
minutes of the circuit court of this
county"
Just before Judge Kirkpatrick
made this statement. his gavel
brought everyone in the courtroom
tn their feet.