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 The Supreme Court of New Jersey.

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Bennett Van Syckel was the fourth in secured a large clientage. If he excelled in descent from the original Dutchman of the any one department of his profession, it was name who came to New Jersey, and is the in his intimate acquaintance with those prin third son of Aaron Van Syckel, one of ciples which governed the law relating to the very best citizens who ever lived in real estate. In 1869 he was made Associate Justice, Hunterdon County. Judge Van Syckel was born at Bethlehem, April 30, 1836. He was was reappointed in 1876, again nominated prepared for college by the Rev. John Van- in 1883, and is now since 1890 in his fourth derveer at Easton, Pennsylvania, and was term of office. His performance of the office

of Justice has proved graduated at Prince so satisfactory to all ton in 1846. After persons interested in graduation he entered the jurisprudence of the office of Alexander the State, that each re Wurts, of Flemington. appointment has met Mr. Wurts was a very with universal appro excellent lawyer, and bation. Judge Van young Van Syckel Syckel took his seat must have enjoyed upon the bench, March great advantages for 15, 1869, and deliv acquiring a practical ered his first opinion knowledge of the pro in the Court of Errors fession in his office. at the March term, and He was licensed in in the Supreme Court 1851, and received his at the June term of counsellor's degree in 1869. The case in the 1854. Flemington latter court involved was the county-seat of some very nice prin Hunterdon County, ciples of constitutional and some of the best lawyers in New Jersey law arising upon the were to be found there. Constitution of 1844. The opinion delivered Young Van Syckel had the ambition to place by Justice Van Syckel DAVID AYRES DEPUE. himself in the front was so excellent and rank of his profession. so convincing that the It was an honest ambition, born from a knowl bar readily concluded that the right man edge of his own ability and faith in himself. was in the right place. So he opened his office at once at FlemingThe characteristics of Judge Van Syckel's ton, where he knew that he must meet coun mind are quickness of perception, alertness sel of more experience than himself, and who of decision, and a prompt grasping of the had had for years a firm hold upon the commu salient features of a cause. The reports of nity. His great zeal in the cause of his cases in the courts where he sits fully de clients, his exactness and care in the conduct monstrate his ability and industry. of business and in the preparation for trial, His circuit is composed of Union and his knowledge of legal principles, his inde Ocean counties. He is a good trial judge, fatigable energy, and his unblemished char his decisions are rarely overruled, and great acter for integrity soon won for him a repu confidence in his correctness is entertained tation which he fully deserved and which by the lawyers who practise in his circuit.