Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-10-14

of the northwest service men. This is
because Judge B%ourquin without doubt
is one Of the most striking figures to be
seen on Seattle streets. as well as being
one Of the most colorful figures on the
federal bench in the west.
A coal miner, a receiver OF public
moneys. a state court judge and then a
federal Judge, Judge B~ourquin's history
has been one as full OF color as his de-
cisions and his actions on the bench. He
looks the part. He dresses the part. Al
ways CARRIED in q 1ongtailed English
walking, or cutaway coat, carrying q
heavy gold-headed cane. and wearing a
derby the Montana jurist with his SOL
dierly carriage and his easy, swinging
marching step is a figure to command
attention anywhere.
A leonine head on top OF the tall,
erect, slender frame sets off the picture.
and this Is emphasized Then the judge
is on the bench.
Many Stories Told
Many are the stories told OF this color
full jurist.- These stories are all Illus
trative Of his demand that the federal
courts be held in the highest respect and
regard, and he demands that the dignity
of the courts never be lowered.
When Judge Bourquin sits In Seattle.
he demands Immediate and prompt at
tention OF attorneys appearing IN the
business. at hand and woe betide the
counselor at aw who is tardy in keeping
his appointments.
1t was not so long ago that the court
convened and no representative OF the
United States district attorneys office
was present to present to the court q
matter then pending.
Court will recess until 10 o'clock to-
morrow morning" Judge Bourquin ruled.
ut is not becoming to the court that 1t
cool it's heels while representatives OF
the government walk up. and down the
corridors smoking cigarettes"
"The representatives Of the govern
ment have no more standing in this
court than has any other OF
the BAR" Judge Bourquin has frequently
| cautioned the United States attorneys
office. They have no more rights than
the prisoner before the court. This Is @
court Of Justice.
His attitude towards congesting the
calendar with scores of minor liquor
cases is well known.
Police Court Cases
Police court cases should be handled
as SUCH" he has frequently said. And
this Is how he handles them.
In his decisions Judge Bourquin fire.
quently quotes from the Bible, and thii
is true OF his remarks from the bench
A keen scholar, Judge Bourquin has 9
Wonderlu vocabulary n his WRITER
opinions are masterpieces OF clear. con
else language, with a touch Of irony anc
humor running through them.
In a recent ruling on an admiralty
case, the Judge opened his written opin'
ion with: From the standpoint Of {
man situated 800 miles inland and sew
eral thousand feet above sea level" anc
again he interpreted what he considered
reasonable doubt" in a masterpiece O.
irony, hurting his thunderbolts at mem
bers Of the circuit court and what HI
termed the Oregon school OF Law"
They tell the story Of how Judge Bodr
quin, whose son is a state Judge IL
Butte, greets his member Of the famil,
when they. meet In public. 1t is "Goos
morning. Judge Bourquin," given will
all the dignity in the world, a formal
courteous greeting from INT 1urist II
another"
Another son, prominent among mem
bers OF the bar in San Francisco, 1
greeted, How do you do. Counselo
Bourquin."
In court the Judge always addresse
the attorneys as counselor"
He will not tolerate clubbing on tn
part Of attorneys with his rulings No