Show NONPARTISAN JUDICIARY EMBERS of the bar at last have taken a astep astep astep MEI MEMBERS step toward the election of judges upon a headless ballot The proposal of the bar bar- association is that Republican members suggest suggest suggest sug sug- gest six of their partisans and Democratic members six of their own as candidates forthe forthe for forthe the district bench Now there may be a good many Republicans cans ans and a good many Democrats who will resent this sort of thing The committee of the bar association will be accused of presuming presuming pre pre- suming to act for the district conventions It will be said that the lawyers are kibit kibitzers Their authority to speak will be ques ques- In fact all sorts of things will be said of them and their right to speak at all under tinder the circumstances will be assailed But all this should not deter the bar association association asso asso- In taking its first step In a practical way toward establishing in Utah a nonpartisan nonpartisan nonpartisan nonpar- nonpar judiciary Of course the naming of Republicans by Republicans and Democrats by Democrats is not exactly what is commonly common common- ly known as nonpartisanship but the present plan will lead both parties along a proper course where it Is conceivable the bench may maybe maybe maybe be filled with representatives of both parties under the plan sponsored Jointly by both and written into law The bar association now vitalized by state law and invested with real responsibility can and should exert eert its great influence toward dispelling the archaic notion that because a candidate for Judge is on the Republican ticket under his party emblem Republicans should regard him as more fit and better qualified than a Democrat running for the same office The record of the judiciary In Utah contains contains contains con con- the names of men of both parties who have served with credit and distinction not because they were partisans but because they were able competent men who regarded their oaths of office of greater importance than their party allegiance If the Utah bar will get right down to eases cases and forgetting petty partisan politics recommend the right men for the judiciary the people will support their ions |