A JUDICIAL SENSATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3141, 10 February 1911, Page 5

A JUDICIAL SENSATION.

BRITISH JUDGE’S INDISCREET REMARKS.

ATTACKS: CANADIAN RECIPROCITY.

[UNITED TRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT.!

LONDON, Feb. 8. Mr. Justice Grantham created a sensation at Liverpool Assizes by repudiating: what be described as a. charge of political partisanship' arising out of his decision in the. Yarmouth election ease in 1906. Scarcely a. week since had passed, he said, without his receiving threatening and insulting letters. He denied all partisanship, and was astonished at the accusation.

Later in the day, Mr. Justice Grantham. in sentencing a Canadian criminal, said that the prisoner was the sort of reciprocity Canada had for England, in sending criminals here to be punished, and in other matters seeking reciprocity with the United States. The “Manchester Guardian” denounces the offensive reference to political partisanship, which colors the whole conception of Mr. Justice Grantham’s judicial conduct. The “Daily News” condemns the Judge’s incapacity for taking a judicial view.

The “Chronicle” says that Mr. Justice Grantham is unable to realise that a Judge requires self-repression. The “Morning Leader” says that the natural unconscious bias of Mr. Justice Grantham is a positive peril to anyone tried for his liberty or his life. The “Westminster Gazette” thinks that the outburst is a swan song, and is a preliminary to other action.

Ali-. Asquith, the Premier, iif grave tones, commented on Judge Grantham’s remarks at Liverpool, and added that the House of Commons was scrupulous in censuring, or even commenting, on Judges, but a reciprocal obligation was expected.

Sir William Grantham (The Hon Mr Justice Grantham) was born in 1836, and is consequently 75 years of age. He was knighted in 1886, and has been judge of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice since the same year. He formerly sat in the House of Commons as M.P. for East Surrey, and also for Croydon.]