The Portland Gazette

The Supreme Court adjourned on Thursday last, having continued in session nearly four weeks. The court, (thanks to their patience and their strength!) struggled to the end of a long docket, on which were standing, actions left there by the old court of Massachusetts. The laborious exertion, the watchful and accurate investigation of the court, and the attention and patience of the Jury, were alike honorable to our judicial establishment and a pledge for that upright administration of justice, which must ensure the confidence of all who are so unfortunate as to be obliged to go to law. We say obliged, for we cannot suppose any person so regardless of peace of mind, so lost to social duty, as to enter and drag others into such a labyrinth, voluntarily.

During the late session, I often attended court and was struck with the inutility of that part of the statute, which requires two judges at least, to be present on jury trials. I observed that but one judge tried the cause, and in fact one judge took the labouring oar through the sittings, while the other was of no sort of use in the cause, was not interested in the trial, nor consulted by his associate. This therefore was to him time wasted, which might have been profitably employed in the preparation of opinions, or at least in laying up materials for future use. I cannot therefore think that our Legislature made any improvement in the judicial system, when they departed from the practice adopted in the old state and which has been approved by the wisdom and experience of ages.