DECLINE OF THE JUDGES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4773, 26 January 1887, Page 3

DECLINE OF THE JUDGES.

Refeumng to the Adams-Coleridge case, a London correspondent of the Argus says it reminds one of the singular and exceedingly regrettable change which has come over public feeling in regard to the "judges of tho land," as they were once fondly and proudly designated. Formerly the custom was to extol them as almou superhuman embodiments of acumen, wist , dom, discretion, kindness, and dignityNow it is the fashion to deride and criti. cise them. Among the many causes which have conduced to this, the Coleridge scandal, including the strange conduct of Mr I Justice Manistry (adds the writer) must, I think, be reckoned. The death of a Judge, two years ago, on circuit, under the most infamous and revolting circumstances, is another. There is again a general impression that in the first Dilke trial Mr Justice Butt passed over a virtual contempt of his Court in order to shield a political and club friend. Finally, there was, not long ago, the sale of Serjeants' Inn by the judges and other Serjeants, who pocketed the proceeds. Here were men who, in tha virtue of a technical right, sold for their private benetit a public institution of immemorial antiquity, of which they happened to be the transient owners. The public naturally concluded that such persons have rather less than the average of morality and public spirit.