Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-10-18
A Letter By Former Judge Peter
IN BEHALF OF
Judge Woodward
TO THE VOTERS OF THE
SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF MARYLAND

SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF MARYLAND
1 should be remiss in my duty a member of the
bar should refrain from publicly expressing my best
judgment to the selection between the candidates
in the pending judicial election which is of great
Importance to this Judicial Circuit, and especially to
Montgomery County, and giving my reasons for the
selection believe Judge Charles w. Woodward has
demonstrated his capacity for the position and there
fore should have the support of the voters of this
Circuit irrespective of their party affiation have
not word to say against his opponent, Mr.. Welsh,
except that he has occupied judicial position
and in my judgment, it is mistake to substitute for
judge of known judicial capacity and temperament
any lawyer whose fitness has not been similarly tested
This is the very reason why the custom has grown
up in Maryland of keeping judge who has proved
his qualifications on the bench.
Contrary to the general opinion, all graduate
lawyers of the constitutional age will not make good
judges. A judge should be capable of understanding
quickly when cited the old text writers like Coke and
Hale, and the modern text writer's like Bishop and
Wigmore; he must be able a moments notice to
determine the exact point decided in the opinions Of
Marshall and fancy, Alvey and McSherry, and hun
dreds of other great judges in other words he must
comprehend quickly the writings produced by some of
the greatest minds of the English speaking people.
This is true because the very nature of the question
submitted to the judge require not only that he be
good lawyer but he must be studious Why?
Because should be submitted to the Court
until the lawyers representing the parties to the
controversy have failed after honest effort, to
reach amicable settlement. If both sides
represented by good lawyers in most controversies
the lawyers know which side is right, and the
who will likely lose WILL in all probability, make the
best settlement he Therefore the questions of
law submitted to the Court the knotty that
difficult of solution rarely arising in the practice
OF the average lawyer; hence neceSsitating digent
research often requiring days and days. Then after
the judge has exhausted the subject and satisfied his
own mind to the law applicable to the under
consideration, if he is good technical lawyer, he
should be able in vast majority of cases. to decide
them correctly and give opinion based cited
authorities with the hope though it often fails of
convincing the lawyer of the losing party that he is
wrong This is all important to the poor and persons
of moderate means to avoid the great expenses of
useless appeal to higher Court.
So far as 1 know but one of Judge Woodwards
decisions has been reversed A good record Why
then try unknown for known? Why try an
uncertainty for certainty? The term of the judges
is long one-ffteen years-and if a mistake is
made, it is very different from short term office
where the error may be corrected. The respon-
sbity resting upon the judiciary is the greatest of
any branch of the government, and when the people
of Judicial Circuit have opportunity to test
candidate by two years of service, they truly
fortunate; because often the term of judge
expires and he is not eligible for reelection. Then
the people, are, less, in the dark to their
choice and can of necessity rely only upon the opinion
OF the members of the bar to the qualifications OF
we are HOC Ill Cne dark III eleCIlOH
Judge Woodward has the qualities essential to Judge
He is good lawyer, just, courageous, conscientious
independent and pains taking. Who say any
lawyer possesses these qualities until he has actually
performed the duties of judge for some length OF
time.
am in the court often enough to observe
Judge Woodward's courteous manner toward everyone
He is free from those traits-fault finding, undue
criticism or those annoying characteristics Of vain
man which are so disconcerting to lawyers, jurors
and witnesses. His whole attention is centered upon
the trial. and he is not distracted by numer-
GUS interests that have connection with the eX-
cesslve judicial work required by this rapidly grow
ing county.
Judge Woodwards qualifications have been demon.
strated no one denies it. Then why the risk OF
making mistake by not retaining his already tested
services
ROBERT B. PETER.
October 18th, 1884