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Letter to Editor
January 30, 1856
New York Daily Tribune
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
Letter to the New York Tribune editor highlights delays in the Supreme Court due to insufficient judges handling thousands of cases; calls for legislative action to add more justices to reduce protracted and expensive litigation in the overburdened New York district.
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DELAYS IN THE SUPREME COURT.
To the Editor of The N. Y. Tribune.
SIR: Your journal has ever exercised an important and wholesome influence upon the judicial relations of our State, and in view of this especial characteristic, I beg your attention to the present condition of the Supreme Court in this city; with a trial calendar burdened by several thousand causes, with other business amply sufficient to engage the steady care of the entire corps of Justices allotted to this District, the curious spectacle of a bench without a Judge is to-day presented, in the instance of the Circuit Court. An entire week has been suffered to pass with no additions to the records of this Court save two or three adjournments. Let it be understood that the Circuit is held not more than forty weeks in the year, that it has in charge some thousands of cases, and the importance of a week's loss will be appreciated. During such a period twenty five causes, at least, might end their expensive career of litigation. Where will we look for a solution of this distress? Do we need more Judges? I am forced to conclude we do. Additions to the bench should be made, but jealously allowed only with a determination, morality demands that means adequate to the end should be granted. In no district in our State is half the law business transacted in the Supreme Court as in this one; yet the judicial force bears this great disproportion,that while each of other Districts has four Judges, this has but five. At present we are reduced to three-one serving out his course on the Bench of Appeals, and one having virtually or really withdrawn from judicial service. Notice of a bill to increase the number of Judges has been given to the Legislature; but will it succeed without the aid of popular demand from this city, where the exigency of the matter is best understood? Protracted litigation, and the power or possibility of such protraction demoralizes a community quite as rapidly as the worst physical vices. Give us the instruments whereby we may, at least, and must if those instruments perform their part well, come to an end in our suits, and litigation will diminish in amount and expense, and many a wrong be promptly righted.
CIVIS.
New- York, Jan. 29, 1856.
To the Editor of The N. Y. Tribune.
SIR: Your journal has ever exercised an important and wholesome influence upon the judicial relations of our State, and in view of this especial characteristic, I beg your attention to the present condition of the Supreme Court in this city; with a trial calendar burdened by several thousand causes, with other business amply sufficient to engage the steady care of the entire corps of Justices allotted to this District, the curious spectacle of a bench without a Judge is to-day presented, in the instance of the Circuit Court. An entire week has been suffered to pass with no additions to the records of this Court save two or three adjournments. Let it be understood that the Circuit is held not more than forty weeks in the year, that it has in charge some thousands of cases, and the importance of a week's loss will be appreciated. During such a period twenty five causes, at least, might end their expensive career of litigation. Where will we look for a solution of this distress? Do we need more Judges? I am forced to conclude we do. Additions to the bench should be made, but jealously allowed only with a determination, morality demands that means adequate to the end should be granted. In no district in our State is half the law business transacted in the Supreme Court as in this one; yet the judicial force bears this great disproportion,that while each of other Districts has four Judges, this has but five. At present we are reduced to three-one serving out his course on the Bench of Appeals, and one having virtually or really withdrawn from judicial service. Notice of a bill to increase the number of Judges has been given to the Legislature; but will it succeed without the aid of popular demand from this city, where the exigency of the matter is best understood? Protracted litigation, and the power or possibility of such protraction demoralizes a community quite as rapidly as the worst physical vices. Give us the instruments whereby we may, at least, and must if those instruments perform their part well, come to an end in our suits, and litigation will diminish in amount and expense, and many a wrong be promptly righted.
CIVIS.
New- York, Jan. 29, 1856.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Informative
Political
What themes does it cover?
Politics
Crime Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Supreme Court Delays
New York Judiciary
Judicial Reform
More Judges
Litigation Costs
Circuit Court
Bench Shortages
What entities or persons were involved?
Civis
Editor Of The N. Y. Tribune
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Civis
Recipient
Editor Of The N. Y. Tribune
Main Argument
the new york supreme court is overburdened with thousands of cases and currently lacks sufficient judges, leading to significant delays; the author urges the legislature to increase the number of judges to expedite litigation and reduce costs.
Notable Details
Trial Calendar Burdened By Several Thousand Causes
Circuit Court Without A Judge For An Entire Week
New York District Has Five Judges Compared To Four In Others, But Effectively Reduced To Three
Notice Of Bill To Increase Judges Given To Legislature
Protracted Litigation Demoralizes The Community