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Editorial
July 6, 1893
Pocahontas Times
Marlinton, Huntersville, Pocahontas County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
Editorial critiquing the incompetence and poor practices of West Virginia justices of the peace, who handle minor litigations without proper legal discernment, questioning, or reasoned decisions, lamenting the impact on the state.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
JUSTICES.
Though asked to write something on the subject of the West Virginia justices of the peace, we feel in doing so that we will in a measure be departing from the wise, well known, rule of saying nothing when good cannot be said.
Often when the sad sight of the justice, with his foot in a sling, makes a bad fall down, the observer is inclined to believe that he is not only blind, but deaf, dumb and ignorant. The fundamental principles of the law have made the rights by which ten cents is to be recovered as well defined, and calling for as nice discrimination, as if it were $10,000.
Therefore the justice finds himself called on to pass on questions, that a circuit judge may shift, to a certain extent, by aid of a jury and bar, were they in the latter's court.
To see a grown, intelligent man sit through an arbitration, giving no more sign of life than a mummy never asking a question, and at the end to say, "I decide for the plaintiff," or otherwise, never condescending to give the reasons by which he arrived at his conclusions, is enough to make one weep for the State, when we consider that his jurisdiction extends to a sum that covers most litigations in the country.
Though asked to write something on the subject of the West Virginia justices of the peace, we feel in doing so that we will in a measure be departing from the wise, well known, rule of saying nothing when good cannot be said.
Often when the sad sight of the justice, with his foot in a sling, makes a bad fall down, the observer is inclined to believe that he is not only blind, but deaf, dumb and ignorant. The fundamental principles of the law have made the rights by which ten cents is to be recovered as well defined, and calling for as nice discrimination, as if it were $10,000.
Therefore the justice finds himself called on to pass on questions, that a circuit judge may shift, to a certain extent, by aid of a jury and bar, were they in the latter's court.
To see a grown, intelligent man sit through an arbitration, giving no more sign of life than a mummy never asking a question, and at the end to say, "I decide for the plaintiff," or otherwise, never condescending to give the reasons by which he arrived at his conclusions, is enough to make one weep for the State, when we consider that his jurisdiction extends to a sum that covers most litigations in the country.
What sub-type of article is it?
Legal Reform
What keywords are associated?
Justices Of The Peace
West Virginia
Judicial Incompetence
Legal Decisions
Arbitration Practices
What entities or persons were involved?
West Virginia Justices Of The Peace
Circuit Judge
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Critique Of West Virginia Justices Of The Peace
Stance / Tone
Critical And Disapproving
Key Figures
West Virginia Justices Of The Peace
Circuit Judge
Key Arguments
Justices Of The Peace Often Appear Incompetent And Ignorant In Handling Cases
Legal Principles Require Precise Discrimination Even In Minor Cases Like Ten Cents
Justices Must Decide Complex Questions Without The Aid Of Jury Or Bar Available To Circuit Judges
Justices Act Passively During Arbitrations, Never Asking Questions Or Providing Reasons For Decisions
Their Jurisdiction Covers Most Litigations, Making Their Poor Performance Detrimental To The State