Show CONTEMPT OF COURT thin THE power of judges in mature matters of contempt has been under consideration in ohio and a decision has been reached by the supreme court of that state which becom I 1 mends itself to the common sense of the public it is to the effect that sentences for contempt of court may be appealed frona from and that the higher court may reverse the decisions of the lower when the punishment iso ishoo severe the power of district courts to punish for contempt has been considered final and defendants have been compelled to submit to penalties of fine and imprisonment that in some cases have been cruel unusual and excessive if there is no right of appeal from such judgments there ought to be and when the laws of any state or territory do not provide a remedy in terms legislation is needed to supply the celicien cy it is not always that a judge is competent to pass on a contempt of court which is personal to himself judges are human and subject to like passions as other mortals and sometimes are influenced by vengeance rather than justlee justice and to retaliate more than maintain the dignity of their office they have been known to require witnesses to do acts which the latter could not net perform with honor bonor or without exposing themselves to obloquy and to commit them indefinitely to prison or until the witnesses witnesses would comply with their instructions such judgments ought to be subject to review by higher courts of course every court must and ought to be competent to preserve its own dignity and authority which would should not lie be defied with impunity this is beyond reasonable dispute but witnesses and defendants have rights as well as judges and supreme power over the liber ties of citizens ought not to be vested in one individual who perhaps proceeds from passion instead of impartial judgment courts have bave in some instances extended their power to punish for contempt beyond their own precincts and have endeavored to control the press this seems to be a great stretch jf if the authority designed by law to be conferred upon them there is no good reason mason why judges more than any other officials should be exempt from criticism and surely the court criticized however improperly should not sit in judgment on the offender all public off feers cers are the servants of the people and judges are no exceptions to the rule they should have their legal remedy against libel and abuse the same as other citizens and officials no less and no more the precedent set in ohio ought to be followed in other parts of the united states the supreme courts ought to have power to reverse or modify the judgments of the lower courts in matters of contempt and every offender ought to have the opportunity of a fair trial by a disinterested court before punishment is inflicted the laws in relation to contempt need considerable amendment |