NEW JUDGE WELCOMED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17753, 12 April 1921, Page 6

NEW JUDGE WELCOMED.

MR. JUSTICE ADAMS.

THE PUBLIC WELL-BEING.

Mr. Justice Adams, who has been appointed to the Supreme Court Bench at Auckland, vice Sir Theo. Cooper, took hi? seat on the Bench for the first time yesterday morning.

Mr. BL P. Richmond, president of the Auckland Lav; Society, on behalf of members of the Bar, of whom there -.vas a good attendance, congratulated the neiv Judge on his appointment, and expressed the pleasure that was felt among the profession that though his future place 11 residence was not definitely fixed, he would be with them until the end of the year, at least. Mr. Richmond spoke eulogistical!}' of Mr. Justice Adam's abii ty and estimable qualities. He had been well known as a keen and a sound lawyer The speaker was sure that His Hon-jr would look back on his sojourn in Auckland with feelings- that the relations l>ctween Bench aad Bar had been <_>? the friendliest. There was nothing, ssid mi. Richmond, more vital to the public w<-:i-being vhan unimpaired faith in the justice of the Supreme Court. In times of stress, especially, it was imperative thai every member of the community, from t — poorest labourer to the wealthiest cap:'.alist, should bo able to come to the Court confident that he would receive justice irrespective of his class status. His Honor, in reply, expressed a deep sense of responsibility in the import am office he was assuming. He realised he was succeeding to a long line of able judges, who had set a standard thatw-oul<> be very difficult to follow. He paid a tribute to Sir Theo. Cooper, to whoif place he had succeeded, as a successfu' practitioner at the Bar, as a most ctt> scientious Judge and a thorough gentle man. His Honor concluded by saying that his desire was so to discharge his duties that, be the term of hi* office long or short, at the end he wotud be assured o:" the continued cordiality of all members of the Bar ; and that a*T least as would he permitted to believe that no wrong had been done, and that the scales of justice had been fairly balanced.