Show CRITICISM OF COURTS A full tuU report of ot the decision d of th supreme court of ot the United States in inthe Inthe inthe the Patterson contempt case cast throws an anlU illuminating lU Illuminati light on the lengths to which newspapers and individuals may go in commenting adversely on court proceedings without subjecting su je ting them themselves themselves selves to a summons summons for tor contempt The Th court holds that criticism is punish punishable punishable able only when it Is uttered during the hearing of ot the case When Wh n a case has been finished we are told tI courts are are subject to the same criticism as other people That is certainly sound doctrine and coming from the highest court In the theland theland land it must be accepted as the law Fair F fr newspapers rs as well as s fair indi individuals ivi usually refrain from comment commenting I ing adversely on court proceedings while they are pending This because anything any thing of ot that sort would be con construed construed construed as aan an effort to Influence nce or to ta intimidate a judge or jury After a verdict has been rendered a decision ha handed ded down dOyn the court and jury may maybe maybe maybe be as Justly made the th object of criticism criticism criticism cism as any private individuals It is perfectly proper then for a news newspaper newspaper newspaper paper or a citizen to print or utter an opinion lon even ev n though it may be entirely adverse to the court And the court under the ruling of the supreme court cannot institute any contempt proceed proceedings proceedIngs proceedings ings We believe that the greatest re respect respect respect should be shown to the courts They The are the shield and bulwark of the th nation American judges as a a rule are honest upright able ab e men whose only purpose is to administer justice Occasionally however there creeps a rascal under the ermine A ArUl ti rule that hal would make it Impossible to criticize courts at any ny time would protect the rascals It would give them an opportunity opportunity opportunity to make a mockery of justice and a laughing stock of law No judge who is honest need fear criticism Only the dishonest ones raise a hue and cry co about it At the same time all aU judges are human all aU liable as are other hu human human human man beings to make mistakes And when they do make mistakes it Is within the proper propel province of newspapers newspapers pers to point out those errors |