Legal ethics

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles S. Mellen

President Roosevelt tells Charles S. Mellen in confidence that he may appoint Judge Walter Chadwick Noyes for the circuit court judge position in Connecticut, even though he has a higher opinion of lawyer John K. Beach. Judges, Roosevelt believes, especially federal judges, should be “the judge for everyone.” They should be able to sympathize with the labor faction and capitalists alike. Unfortunately the judges in New York do not understand the labor side. Roosevelt hopes to meet Noyes soon and see if he holds these qualities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

The Haywood verdict

Thomas B. Stuart analyzes the “class struggle” aspects of the Big Bill Haywood case. Stuart discusses the case as it relates to legal ethics and the court system in Colorado.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-03

Creator(s)

Stuart, Thomas B., 1859-1926

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to S. S. McClure

President Roosevelt agrees with S. S. McClure’s opinions about the Western Federation of Miners and the Big Bill Haywood case, but can only handle troops within the limits of the law.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-12-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles J. Bonaparte

President Roosevelt has received Attorney General Bonaparte’s letter and invites him to visit in Oyster Bay, New York, when convenient. While Roosevelt had hoped to “avoid the muss” regarding the case of Ulysses S. Bratton, Assistant United States Attorney for Arkansas, he agrees with Bonaparte on the matter. Roosevelt will discuss the Connecticut judgeship with Bonaparte at a later time.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Lucien Hugh Alexander

While President Roosevelt appreciates Lucien Hugh Alexander’s courtesy and the issue of legal ethics, he regretfully informs him that he is unable to write the requested letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philander C. Knox

Senator Lodge has acquired further information on Mr. Casey, the Assistant District Attorney at Boston, Massachusetts. Through President Roosevelt, Lodge has requested that Attorney General Knox speak with Mr. Stebbins and Edward C. Mansfield regarding Casey’s professional ethics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Philander C. Knox

After careful consideration, President Roosevelt has decided not to interfere in the case of Benjamin G. Hill and explains his reasoning.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Charles Freeman Johnson to William H. Taft

Director Johnson of the National Legal Reform Association reviews the malpractice of Evarts, Choate & Beaman against their client James R. Watts. He requests that President Taft order an investigation by District Attorney Henry A. Wise.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-02-10

Creator(s)

Johnson, Charles Freeman

Letter from Charles Freeman Johnson to Charles G. Pease

Charles Freeman Johnson, Acting Secretary of the People’s National Legal Ethic’s Society thanks Charles G. Pease for his letter. He forwarded it to President William H. Taft, who discussed the failure of legal administrators in a recent speech. Johnson argues that if public opinion demands the impartial and just enforcement of existing laws, then no magistrate could discriminate. The Society believes that Chief Magistrate of New York City William McAdoo will support the improvement of general condition.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-18

Creator(s)

Johnson, Charles Freeman

Letter from Charles Freeman Johnson to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles Freeman Johnson, Acting Secretary of the People’s National Legal Ethics Society, requests Theodore Roosevelt’s cooperation in the movement for equal justice through legal ethics reform. He sends his letters to President William H. Taft and Charles G. Pease, as well as a newspaper article. As the public is eager for more information, Johnson urges Roosevelt to publish the article in The Outlook.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-18

Creator(s)

Johnson, Charles Freeman

Letter from Charles Freeman Johnson to William H. Taft

Charles Freeman Johnson of the People’s National Legal Ethics Society requests President Taft’s support for the reform of legal procedure to prevent needless litigation and lawyer misconduct.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-18

Creator(s)

Johnson, Charles Freeman

Letter from Charles Freeman Johnson to Editor of The Outlook

Due to the overwhelming number of inquiries about the Peoples National Legal Ethics Society, Charles Freeman Johnson discusses its purpose and support in a letter to the editor of The Outlook. The organization seeks to cooperate with the American Bar Association through state advisory councils to adopt and enforce the Association’s code of ethics. Such enforcement throughout the country will significantly advance reform in legal procedures, and it is the type of movement President William H. Taft recommended in his speech in Chicago, Illinois. Johnson quotes lawyers and legal professionals who support the Society, which is expected to have 400,000 members within a year. He invites correspondence from interested parties.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-18

Creator(s)

Johnson, Charles Freeman

Support for People’s National Legal Ethics Society

Extracts of letters from Gleason L. Archer, Charles Thaddeus Terry, and Madison Clinton Peters to Charles Freeman Johnson expressing their support of the Peoples National Legal Ethics Society’s movement to reform legal ethics. Includes a list of signers of the organization’s petition.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-14

Creator(s)

Archer, Gleason L., 1880-1966; Terry, Charles Thaddeus, 1867-1923; Peters, Madison Clinton, 1859-1918

Letter from Charles Freeman Johnson to William R. Day

Charles Freeman Johnson calls Supreme Court Justice William R. Day’s attention to the work of the People’s National Legal Ethics Society. He cites a number of prominent lawyers and judges in arguing for the necessity of such a society to make sure that laws are being enforced fairly by, and against, lawyers and judges.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-04

Creator(s)

Johnson, Charles Freeman

Letter from Lucien Hugh Alexander to Theodore Roosevelt

Lucien Hugh Alexander lets Theodore Roosevelt know that the legal ethics report was well received and his recommendation was unanimously adopted by the American Bar Association. Alexander also addresses the conflict between Roosevelt and Mr. Porter, which Alexander believes stems from a “gross misunderstanding” that should be resolved. Alexander points out that with Chief Justice Fuller’s retirement, Roosevelt could have the opportunity to appoint a new Chief Justice, which provides even more impetus for Roosevelt to mend ties with Porter. Alexander will write Roosevelt soon concerning a matter relating to “the great James Wilson.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-04

Creator(s)

Alexander, Lucien Hugh, 1866-1926

Lawyers and legal ethics

The People’s National Legal Ethics Society’s work is commendable as it calls for a national educational campaign for the adoption and enforcement of a uniform code of ethics by lawyers and courts. The history of the legal ethics code is discussed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-19

Creator(s)

Unknown

Ask Jersey lawyers to aid legal reform

Charles Freeman Johnson, acting secretary of the People’s National Legal Ethics Society, has sent letters to New Jersey lawyers asking for their cooperation and expression of their views on reforming legal ethics. Text from Johnson’s letter to Justice Francis J. Swayze and his letter to the Newark Evening News regarding the movement are reprinted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-18

Creator(s)

Unknown

Ethics of lawyers

The People’s National Legal Ethics Society issued a petition nationwide for judges, lawyers, educators, and citizens to sign. The petitioners call for a national educational campaign for the adoption and enforcement of a uniform code of ethics by lawyers and courts. Additionally, the society sent a seventeen-page brief on the status of ethics of legal professions to the justices of the United States Supreme Court and other prominent individuals, including those listed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-15

Creator(s)

Unknown

Petition

The undersigned individuals petition for the adoption and enforcement of a uniform code of ethics by lawyers and courts of the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-18

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Charles Freeman Johnson to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles Freeman Johnson, Acting Secretary of the People’s National Legal Ethics Society, asks Theodore Roosevelt to consider an enclosed letter which has been sent to each of the Supreme Court Justices as being addressed to him as well. The society is trying to gather broad popular support for the impartial enforcement of laws.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911

Creator(s)

Johnson, Charles Freeman