The New Judge

NZ Truth, Issue 1168, 19 April 1928, Page 4

The New Judge

T'HE recent appointment of Lawyer A D. S. Smith to the Supreme Court bench upsets the old saying that "A man is either a fool or a physician at forty." His honor, of course, is neither fool nor physician, but at his specific twoscore period of life it cannot be denied that a benevolent Providence has placed his feet m a big place. The new judge has a fine academic and athletic record behind him. He was educated at Wellington College and at Victoria University College he graduated LL.M. m 1913. Apart from many other activities, he was a member of the executive of the New Zealand Alliance m 1921-2 and 1b now president of the Rotary Club. As the head of a well-known Wellington legal firm, he has had a fairly considerable court experience amid a general practice. However, the cry is now that it la a young man's day. Certain It is that his appointment at such a comparatively early age to fill so Important a position as Supreme Court judge is m line with the young-man-era theory. Precedent has invariably been against the appointment of judges so early, the rule being to select men from the ranks of much older practitioners. It is clear, tyowever, that age does not always necessarily imply the collective maturity required for judgeship. The dispensation of justice, the sharply discerning faculty of observation, the keen appreciation of-meticu-lous and exacting points of law, are pre-supposed m an estimation of the qualities of a judge. If all the attributes can be found m a man younger m years than is customary m the appointment of Supreme Court judges, then why not? It may be argued that there .are men just as > rich m mental, athletic, academic and legal attainments as the new judge, .but it has to be remembered that appointments are made from what is considered good and useful general qualifications, particularly suitable for judicial authority. His honor is to be congratulated upon his great success and, of course, his good fortune.