The Green Bag Volume XXIII
November, 1911
Number 11
Changes in the Massachusetts Supreme Court HIEF JUSTICE Arthur Prentice
to him. He was born in Sterling, Mass,
Rugg of the Supreme Judicial
Aug. 20, 1862, and was educated at Am herst College and Boston University Law School. He began practice with former Congressman John R. Thayer at Wor cester, under the firm name of Thayer
Court of Massachusetts took the oath of ofiice Sept. 20. The appointment came as a surprise, but the promotion of the youngest Associate Justice has
been well received both by the bar and
8: Rugg. He was president of the Wor
by the general public. The retiring Chief Justice, Marcus Perrin Knowlton,
cester Common Council in 1895, assis tant district attorney 1893-97, and city
commended his successor in the follow
solicitor of Worcester 1897-1906.
ing words: —
connection with his duties as city solic itor he became recognized as an author ity on water rights and grade crossing
"Since his appointment as an Associate Jus tice of the Supreme bench, five years ago, Judge Rugg has done excellent work with constantly increasing power and understanding. His opin ions have had a clear and attractive style with good reasoning. "His cases have been investigated thoroughly and carefully, so far as authorities are concerned. His judicial work has commended itself to all whom it has concerned. "He has an attractive personality, with suffi cient dignity and withal a kindliness and sym pathy which commen’d him. He is a delightful and elegant gentleman, and his qualifications combine to make him popular with the bar in a high degree. "He will make an excellent Chief Justice. In ten years from now he will be generally recog nized as an unusually strong judge. He is that now because of his exhaustive methods in pre paring decisions and opinions. It is a good appointment."
In
litigation. Especial attention was at tracted to his ability when he tested the constitutionality of the street railway law of 1898 before the Supreme Court of the United States. Since going on the Supreme bench in 1906, he has written
some notable opinions. His amiable manner in court and his personal charm have won him a host of friends among the members of the bench and bar. The Springfield Republican says of the new Chief Justice:— l'He is and always has been a man of the people, of plain ever a student, jealous mistress, standing when he
habits and sympathies, but devoted first of all to that the law. His professional went on the bench was con
ceded, he has made a fine record
there, and
any notable advantages and earned by
his elevation to the distinguished company of the chief justices of the Massachusetts supreme court-since 1830 these men have been Lemuel Shaw, George Tyler Bigelow, Reuben Atwater
hard work the honors which have come
Chapman, Horace Gray, Marcus Morton, Wal
Chief Justice Rugg is a splendid ex ample of a man who started life without
