Judge Barnard, who has been for some time under trial
before the New York Senate, sitting as an Impeachment Court, with the Chief Justice at their head, has been found guilty, sentenced to dismissal, and declared disqualified for office. If the Judge was really the man New. York believed him to be, be has escaped too easily. No other sentence, however, could have been inflicted. It is a remarkable fact that in no English-speaking country is a corrupt judge liable to penal consequences. Selling injustice from the Bench is by far the highest offence a man can commit against society, and nearly the highest offence against morals. Yet it is not punishable as a separate crime. It ought to be the only civil offence made capital. It is impossible to punish wilful injustice on the Bench, because it would be impos- ble to prove motive, but it is quite as easy to prove bribe-taking in a Judge as in any other official. Mere dismissal is a punish- ment so absurdly inadequate that the appasssnt, impunity of - corrupt Judge must demoralize the community-.
Previous page
