Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 03.pdf/187

 Rh

of that court composed of four and three judges respectively. The former division is to be intrusted with jurisdiction over appealed civil cases only; the latter with criminal cases and all original proceedings, and when none of these claim its attention, civil cases are to be assigned to it for hearing. Upon a difference of opinion in either of the divisions, the cause stands referred to the court as a whole. Doubtless the working power of the court will be increased by this arrangement, and that was the prime con sideration for its adoption. Almost any sys tem is preferable to the one under which a case is not reached for three years, or more, af ter having been appealed. That the new plan has its faults is not denied by its advocates, but these are hoped to be within reach of remedy as they are disclosed. Judge James B. Gantt, elected in 1890, has become a member and presiding judge of the second division. He is a native of Georgia, a graduate of the University of Virginia; was prominent at the bar, and served with distinguished abil ity as judge of one of Missouri's most im portant judicial circuits. There is every reason to anticipate that he will be an orna ment to the bench on which he has but recently taken his seat. As his associates, the Governor has appointed George B. Macfarlane and John L. Thomas. The former is well known as an accomplished lawyer, blessed with qualities and a temperament well fitting a judicial station. The latter has had a long experience on the Circuit Court Bench, and his friends bespeak for him a satisfactory service in his high station. Although it might be germane to a sketch of Missouri's courts of final appellate juris diction, space forbids an extended reference to the judges who have been members of the Courts of Appeals. Judge Thomas T. Gantt had long been a prominent member of the St. Louis Bar, and was the contempo rary and associate of Messrs. Gamble, Bates, Geyer, Spalding, Field, Glover, Shepley, Hill, Broadhead, Todd, Hitchcock, and others no less able. He had been especially success

ful in important real-estate litigation, and had amassed a large fortune. A long and active life at the bar was very gracefully rounded off by a brief but brilliant judicial service. Judges Hayden and Bakewell were also well-known members of the St. Louis Bar. Judge Lewis had been a member of the Supreme Court for a brief period, and his life will be noticed in that connection. Judge Thompson's life and features have already been presented in the pages of the "Green Bag." Judge Rombauer has seen long service at the bar, and yielded a lucra tive practice for judicial honors. Judge Philips has had a career which has deserv edly made him prominent as a brave soldier, a wise legislator in Missouri's General As sembly and Constitutional Convention and in the halls of Congress, as a great lawyer and advocate, a hard student and accomplished scholar, and an industrious and admirable jurist, as a member of the Supreme Court Commission, a judge of the Court of Appeals, and more recently on the Federal bench. In his present position he has been brought more closely in contact with the bar at large than ever before, and as a result it is a nu merous body that accords him high and hearty praise for his splendid ability, his patient courtesy, his tireless industry, and his graceful accomplishments. Judge Elli son was comparatively a young man when he first came upon the bench, but has developed good judicial qualities, an acute mind, and a capacity for the rapid despatch of business. Judge Smith has long been an active and suc cessful practitioner, was Attorney-General (1877-1881), and brought to the bench a mind, an experience, and the qualities of in dustry which have made him a satisfactory and popular judge. Judge Gill came to the bench after a long experience as a nisi prius judge in a busy court, and is well equipped for the labors of his position. In 1882 the Legislature of Missouri de cided to experiment with the plan of a Supreme Court Commission of three mem bers, to be appointed by the Supreme Court,