Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1904 — JUSTICES TO RESIGN. [ARTICLE]

JUSTICES TO RESIGN.

Fuller, Harlan and Brown Will Soon Leave the Bench. Important changes in the personnel of tiie Supreme bench are now expected before the meeting of the next Congress. It is known in judicial circles that Chief Justice Fuller. Justice Harlan and Justice Brown plan to retire. No date is fixed, but it is understood that they will take such action within tiie next few months. Having passed the age of 70 years, and having -served more than ten years upon the bench. Chief Justice Fuller is entitled to retire on full pay. He took the oath of office Oct. 8, 1888. Despite his years, he continues in excellent health and is mentally vigorous, but it is known that sickness in his family hns caused him much worry during the last year. For this reason he has been tempt ed to take advantage of the law governing retirement and to leave the responsibilities of his position to a younger man. Appointed by a Democratic President he prefers that a Democratic President appoint his successor, so that his retirement, if it comes as expected, will be deferred until after tiie election in November. Should a Republican be elected lie will retire almost immediately, but should a Democrat be returned to office, lie would wait until after his inauguration, March 4, 1905. Justice Harlan will be 71 years old June 1. He will have been twenty-four years on the bench on the 10th of next December. He is, therefore, entitled to retirement with full pay, both on account of. age and account of service. Justice Harlan's health has been far from good in tiie last year, and he is beginning to show his age more than any other man on the bench. The third justice who is booked for retirement is Justice Brown. He is only 68 years of ago, having been born on March 2, 1836, but he has been on the bench since Jan. 5, 1896, and so is entitled to retirement because of length of service.