THE

ORGANIZATION.

HE Supreme Court of the State of Ohio as at present constituted consists of six judges who are elected for six years, the term of one judge expiring each year. This court is divided into two divisions of three judges each, the first division consisting of the Chief Justice and the third and fifth judge in the order of the expiration of their terms, and the second division consists of the remaining three.

When the judges comprising either division divide as to the decision in a cause before it, the cause shall be reserved for decision by the full court; and when different causes involving the same question are before the respective divisions at the same time, such causes shall also be reserved for decision by the full court. If the whole court be divided evenly as to the decision in any cause, the judgment of the lower court shall be entered as affirmed, and such decision shall be held to be the law as to all such questions in other causes until overruled by a majority of all the judges. And when the members of the court, in any matter of original jurisdiction, divide evenly on any question or questions therein, the determination of the members with whom the chief justice votes shall be held to be the judgment of the court.

LOCATION.

The Court Rooms, Consultation Rooms and Judges' Offices occupy the entire second floor of the Judiciary Building of the State Capitol.

The Supreme Court of the State of Ohio.

WEEKLY COURT CALENDAR.

For the mutual convenience of the court and of parties in suit before it, the following rule in practice is observed:

Mondays-Reserved for consultation.

Tuesdays-Reserved for decisions of the Court.

Wednesdays-Reserved for the hearing of oral arguments.

Thursdays-Reserved for hearing motions.

Fridays Reserved for the hearing of oral arguments.
Saturdays-Reserved for consultation.

William T. Spear, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was born June 3, 1834, in Warren, Ohio, from whence came several of Ohio's distinguished judges. His father, Edward Spear, also a judge, was a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch descent; his mother, whose lineage is traced back to colonial times, came from Norwich, Connecticut. His parents came to Ohio, settling at Warren in the year 1819.

Mr. Spear received a common school education in the excellent union schools of Ohio, supplemented by a most valuable experience at the printer's trade. After serving an apprenticeship upon the "Trumbull Whig and Transscript," published at Warren, he went to New York City, where he was employed in the office of the New York "Herald," and thereafter became a compositor, and later a proofreader, in the publishing house of the Appletons.

The value of the practical lessons thus derived, laying as they did a solid foundation for important duties which he was called upon to perform in after life, can hardly be estimated. Perhaps no pursuit quickens the powers of conception more than the craft of the printer, and especially has the experience herein outlined been of service to the judge in the preparation of judicial opinions. Says one distinguished in the craft: "Herne has uttered a sneer at the husk and shell of learning, but the best bread is made from the whole meal, and includes the 'shorts' and the 'middlings' as well as the fine flour. If every lawyer, physician, and clergyman were to spend six months at the 'case' before entering upon his profession, he would find, even in that short time of labor, a useful and fitting preparation for such literary tasks as may afterwards devolve upon him."

The young printer appreciated his calling, but growing tired of the confinement of the printing office, and having imbibed an ambition for the law, he returned to Warren, and at once began to learn something of the practical side of the profession of his choice, by service as deputy clerk of the Probate and Common Pleas Courts of Trumbull County. He served in these capacities for several years, devoting his spare hours, in the meantime, to the study of law under the direction of Hon. Jacob D. Cox, since Governor of Ohio, but then of the Trumbull County bar, later Dean of the Cincinnati Law School, and father of many lawyers. This preparation was followed by a course in Harvard Law School, where Mr. Spear was graduated in 1859. Being thus equipped by reason of his practical theoretical training, and ready to enter the field of contest, and having returned to Warren, where he was admitted to the bar of Ohio, he at once became a member of the firm of Cox &Ratliff. Later he was associated in practice with Hon. John C. Hutchins, now of the Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County. In 1871 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Trumbull County, serving two terms, and Solicitor of his native city for two terms; and for several years he was engaged in the practice with C. A. Harrington, Esq., the firm enjoying a lucrative business. Soon after laying down the duties of those minor positions, Mr. Spear was elected Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, the duties of which office he entered upon in 1878. He was re-elected at the expiration of his first term, but did not complete the second term, because of his election to the Supreme Court, which occurred in 1885. He has since been three times elected to succeed himself as a member of the Supreme Court, became Chief Justice in 1892, 1897 and 1904, and was renominated to succeed himself upon the Supreme Bench, for the fourth time by the Republican state convention in May, 1904.

William Z. Davis was born in the village of Loydsville, Belmont County, Ohio, June 10, 1839. He is of Virginia descent. His father, Dr. Bushrod Washington Davis, was a native of Loudon County, Virginia, and descendant of the revolutionary stock in the Old Dominion. His mother nee Miss Harriet Hatcher, of Belmont County, was also a member of a Virginia family. He was educated in the public schools and in private academy; has been a life-long student, and was for many years a member of the American Microscopical Society, withdrawing only because pressure of business duties interferred with scientific experiment; served out a three months' enlistment in the 4th Ohio Regiment, during the civil war, and afterwards served in the 96th Ohio Regiment, until physically disabled and honorably discharged during the Vicksburg campaign; in the meantime was admitted to the bar; and after coming out of the military service, and upon regaining his health he entered upon the practice of the law; almost from the beginning was recognized as a leader at the bar, and enjoyed a large practice, extending into all the state and federal courts. The suggestion of his name for the office of Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio was received with remarkable enthusiasm by lawyers of all political parties throughout the state; was nominated by the Republican party in June, 1899, as its candidate for that office, and was elected in November of that year, up to which time he had never held an elective office. On the 10th day of January, 1900, he was appointed by Governor Nash to fill a vacancy on the Supreme bench caused by the resignation of Judge Joseph P. Bradbury, who had resigned the day before; on February 9, 1900, he entered upon the regular term for which he had been elected in the preceding November. Previous to his election to the Supreme Court Judge Davis never served upon the bench; he has, however, already been accredited high rank among the Supreme Judges of Ohio. His opinions are conspicuous for their conciseness and clearness of statement, and their legal ability and soundness. He will enter upon his first term as Chief Justice on the 9th of February, 1905.