William Denman

“ A man might spend weeks canvassing the state, obtain a plurality of votes and beat all his opponents, and still not be elected because there is no vacancy on account of the failure to recall the incumbent.
To sum it up, the settlement of the necessity for recalling a judge at a popular election calls on the average voter to make a decision he has not the special knowledge to make. It places the incumbent in fear of removal by men without the time or the special information or training necessary to give him a fair hearing. ”

“ Because a man who is a deep student of men and codes, and possesses a real judicial temperament, rarely has the gift of stump speaking necessary to make his case before the people in a recall campaign, even if the electorate had the expert knowledge to understand the distinctions he is attempting to make. ”

“ While the law is not an exact science in the sense of mathematics or physics, it is a complicated science requiring quiet expert research and a highly developed special knowledge as well as a broad sympathy and understanding of human nature. ”

“ Even the wisest laws will work substantial injustice, from humanity’s standpoint, in some cases. For instance, the millionaire’s foreclosure of a mortgage for a thousand dollars, which throws the aged widow of a respectable workman out of her cottage and sends her to the poor-house, cannot be regarded as substantial justice from the standpoint of common humanity. ”

“ Because the judicial office is very little in the public eye. The conspicuous decision of an unpopular nature in such cases as are referred to will outweigh years of quiet, conscientious public service, all the better because accomplished in an inconspicuous manner. ”