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 The Green Bag Volume XXIII

October, 1911

Number 10

Lucilius A. Emery, Retiring Chief Justice‘ Bv WILLIAM P. Wnrrauouss CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE MAINE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT

T IS altogether ﬁtting and proper that the members of the court and of the bar should join in this merited tribute of respect and honor for their retiring Chief Justice, who for twenty-eight years has adorned the bench of the highest court of the state by the dignity of his manners, and illumined its counsels by

his wisdom and learning. It is ﬁtting and just that during his lifetime public attention should bedirected to the admir able ﬁdelity and distinguished ability which have characterized not only his judicial service, but the discharge of all his public and official duties for forty years. Too oft the ﬂowers that deck the bier Had better brightened living eye.

Let it be made known to him while living that the conscientious and faith ful discharge of onerous and responsible judicial duties in our state, though from its juridical history it is expected as of course, is none the less appreciated and honored by the bar and the people of the state. ‘Delivered at the banquet tendered Chief Justice Emery by the Maine Bar Association July 27. 1911, on the occasion of his retirement from the bench.

It is not ﬁtting, however, on this oc casion, to indulge in fulsome eulogy of our distinguished guest. It would be dis tasteful to one who “hath borne his faculties" with becoming meekness and modesty. During twenty-eight of the best years of his life he has been engaged in performing the highest function of organized government, the administra tion of that justice which is the chief end

and purpose of human society, and the highest interest and most important con

cern of man on earth.

For "wherever

her temple stands," said Mr. Webster, “and so long as it is duly honored, there is

the foundation of social security, general happiness and the progress and improve ment of the race." For twenty-eight years he sought to administer justice without respect to persons and to do equal right to the poor and to the rich. During all these years no speck or stain

has ever blemished his judicial ermine, and no suspicion rested upon the purity of his motives. No untoward incident has ever disturbed or ruﬁied the serenity of his judicial demeanor, and no consid

eration except the truth and the justice of the cause has ever been suspected of