Rutherford's Legal Career.
Rutherford took some courses in shorthand.
He worked as a clerk at a law firm.
He took an oral exam by several lawyers, and passed.
He became a member of the bar, and could practice law.
He was selected to fill in for a judge for a few days
when the judge was out of town. This he deemed was
enough for him to accept the title of "Judge" for the
rest of his life.
Rutherford became (supposedly) a member of the New York Bar.
When he became a Bible Student, he was in top circle of
people around Russell, but....
When Russell sued a newspaper for libel over the "Miracle
Wheat" affair, Rutherford was not chosen to handle the case.
After Russell died, and Rutherford wanted to kick out the directors
of the WTS, he consulted with some other attorney.
When the flag issues resulted in court cases, Rutherford did not
handle the legal defense. Moyle and Covington were the top lawyers
used by the WTS in those cases.
Rutherford presented an oral argument before the US Supreme Court
once, his argument being mainly theological in nature, and he left
unused some of the time allocated to him, in order to answer
questions from the judges, but he was disappointed when they did
not ask any question of him, and ignored the arguments he presented.
So there you have it, Rutherford the lawyer, Rutherford the Judge,
Rutherford the "non"-trial lawyer, all summarized in one place.
In Walter Salter's letter 1937 letter to Rutherford, he wrote,
"Two years ago last summer you made the statement to me and another
that you had bluffed all your life. I believe that was one of the truest
statements you ever made..."
I concur.
--VM44