PLAN No. 683. HE BECAME POLICE JUDGE
Reading edition
After winning an election as justice of the peace, it is always the ambition of the justice to become police judge of the city. To win this position does not only mean the increase of one hundred or more dollars a month in salary, but also gives a good opportunity for a lawyer to build up a reputation, which may lead to a judgeship in the superior court. Of course, the mayor and city council of a city determine which justice will be the police court judge, and a friendly standing with them will aid in determining whether or not a candidate will be police judge.
Most of the people of a city and the county know more about the police judge than they do about the superior court judge. As a matter of fact, the newspapers of the community give far more publicity to the doings of the police court than do those of the superior court. Every little matter that comes up before the police court, serious or otherwise, is printed in the local daily, and all questions of any consequence that are to come up will first take place before the police court. So a lawyer, who occupies this position, and has good judgment, and takes his cases seriously, has an opportunity to make a good record for himself, and if he handles his opportunities in this position properly, he can become judge of the superior court.
This work brings him in touch with all the police branches and their work, and the county prosecutor’s office as well. As a matter of fact, many persons in the profession believe that it is best for a man who desires to become a superior court judge, to first become justice of peace.