In Re Judges in Chancery

The requests from lawyers and others, principally lawyers, for advisory opinions from the chancellor, vice-chancellors and masters in chancery, have become so numerous that something should be said to show their true character, and also to dissuade those who thus seek their law, and to justify the judges in refusing it.

It must be apparent to everybody that for a judge to give advice upon a cause which may possibly come into his court in some form or other, is wrong in principle and practice. The giving of advice is the business of attorneys and counselors-at-law; the deciding of questions in…