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The Supreme Court of Missouri

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the remaining counties of the State. In succeeded, Jan. 1, 1889, by William H stead of being merely intermediate courts, B1ggs, whose term will expire Jan. 1 they became of final jurisdiction. All cases 1901. The first judges of the Kansas Cit) falling within the appellate jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals were John F. Philips, Supreme Court went directly to that court. James Ellison, and Willard P. Hall, who were Should any one judge of an appellate court appointed in 1885 to serve until Jan. 1, think a decision made was contrary to a pre 1889. Judge Philips resigned in 1888, hav vious ruling of the other appellate court, or of ing been appointed Judge of the United the Supreme Court, a transfer of the cause for States District Court for the Western Dis

ultimate disposition trict of Missouri. The remainder of his term to the latter tribunal was made obligatory. was filled by William Although apparently W. Ramsay. In 1888 somewhat complicated Jackson L. Smith, and open to much crit James Ellison, and icism, the system has Turner A. Gill were given general satisfac elected for four, eight, tion, especially since and twelve years re spectively, and now 1885, and no move ment for its abolition compose that court. has ever been seriously The chief-justiceship inaugurated. This is has devolved upon the largely due to the fact judge who for the time that the courts have being held "the oldest been composed of good license to practise law judges, who have dis in this State." Under posed of their cases ex this rule, Judges Gantt, peditiously, and whose Lewis, and Rombauer opinions are, in many have successively pre instances, exceed i ngly sided over the St. able. The St. Louis Louis court, and Court of Appeals has Judges Philips, Ram been composed of say, and Smith over the the following judges : Kansas City tribunal. WILLIAM B. NAPTON. Thomas T. Gantt, It soon became ap Robert A. Bakewell, and Edward A. Lewis, parent, however, that the machinery provided who were appointed as the first judges in was still insufficient to avoid the evil of an 1875, to hold until Jan. 1, 1877. At the elec overcrowded docket of the Supreme Court, tion in 1876, Charles S. Hayden, Robert A. nearly three years behind. The fact that the Bakewell, and Edward A. Lewis were elected courts of appeals usually cleared their respec for four, eight, and twelve years respectively. tive dockets with the close of a term threw Judge Hayden was succeeded by Seymour the condition of the other docket into bold D- Thompson, whose term will expire Jan. relief for the contemplation of the people. i.1893; and Judge Bakewell by Roderick The result was still another constitutional E. Rombauer, whose term will expire Jan. amendment, submitted in 1889 and adopted Ii 1897. Judge Lewis resigned in 1887, in 1890, which provided, in brief, for an in and was succeeded by Charles E. Peers, who crease of the membership of the Supreme served the remainder of his term, and was Court to seven judges, and for two divisions