THE PORTABLE SUPREME COURT or A JUDGE ON THE GO by Marisa Masterson

 The Old West and outlaws! I love including them in my books. But, in writing my newest story, I discovered something about the other side of the law. 

Library of Congress

Circuit riders! I believed they were only preachers. Instead, while researching for my book, I learned about circuit riding judges. Even Supreme Court Justices had to travel to hear cases. Amazing!

In my book, outlaws who had been selling alcohol to the indigenous people were on trial. Rather than send them to a larger town or city, the judge came to Fox Creek to try them. 

From Lily Lassoes the Lawman:

“Eric Mueller, how do you plead?”

Travis leaned forward in his chair at the front of the makeshift courtroom. Judge Harding sat behind Sheriff Ritter’s desk. His gavel traveled with him, and it lay near his hand on the otherwise clear desktop. Ritter sat next to him with Abner Perkins on his other side. He acted as a sort of prosecutor for the case as well as a witness.

The accused were brought out one at a time. Harding had already tried Roberts and the other two men involved in the failed abduction plot. Roberts was found guilty for that and for the other crimes reported to the judge by Abner Perkins, as the local Indian Agent.

Eric Mueller was the final prisoner. Ritter had insisted on saving him for last. Travis had agreed with Ritter about Eric’s apparent innocence. Compared to the other hardened criminals, Eric seemed to be a young man who needed a second chance at doing right, or so the sheriff believed.

Travis watched as Eric’s Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. The man croaked out, “Not guilty, Your Honor.”

“Why should I believe you?”

I wanted to be sure this really happened in the 1800s. Low and behold, I learned about circuit judges. I have heard of a circuit court, but I had never heard ot that court traveling from town to town. With easy travel in our time, we don't need to do that. On the western frontier, this would be a necessity.

Stephen Field, Wikipedia

Even Supreme Court Justices traveled, at least for about one hundred years in the court's history. One, Justice Stephen Field, had to board a ship bound for Panama. Then he crossed the Isthmus. There, he took a ship to California in order to hear a case there. 

While still in California, he was attacked by a former colleague. The US Marshal assigned to protect Field shot and killed the attacker. Both were charged with murder, charges that were later dropped. (https://www.bunkhistory.org/resources/a-brief-history-of-circuit-riding)

With the rising number of cases seeking to be heard by the present justices, perhaps they need to return to such a system. Who knows? After all, the old saying is true--what's old becomes new again.

If you want to read more about judges on horseback, check out https://www.lb8.uscourts.gov/pubsandservices/histsociety/empire-panel2-judges-on-horseback.pdf.

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

Lily Lassoes the Lawman is now available!

Lily Calhoun cannot curb her anxiety when a United States marshal enters her café. She hopes his time in Fox Creek is brief. The man’s searching gaze confirms what she already fears. He knows her secret.

Travis Strickland arrives in Fox Creek to round up Fast Gun Philly Roberts and his gang of moonshiners. At least, he allows the locals to believe that. He has another reason for coming to town, one involving Lily.

He is intent on capturing Milo Wilder, the man who wants to find Lily. Wilder is a bank robber who murdered a man during his last theft. Travis will use the café owner as bait to lure the outlaw from wherever he is hiding.

It should be easy for Travis. The man he wants to capture will come after Lily. Travis will wait and watch, ready to catch him. Except Lily alters his plan when she packs up her son and runs away in the night.

When a man from her past threatens to reveal her real identity to the townspeople, Lily decides to leave. She buys a buggy and runs away in the night with her young son. Starting over will be hard, but it is not as daunting as facing her friends after they learn the truth about her.

Travis Strickland will not let her escape. He proposed to her and wants an answer. Or so he says when he catches up with her. What follows is a visit with a drunken judge and a night spent in a bunk house—and Travis’s confession that he plans to use her as bait.

Will Lily be his ‘happily wedded wife’ after learning how he plans to use her to catch Milo Wilder? Can Travis convince her to return to Fox Creek once she knows her outlaw brother-in-law is on his way?