Lawyers and Lawmakers of Kentucky, by H. Levin, editor, 1897. Published
by Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago.  Reprinted by Southern Historical
Press.  p. 242.  Jefferson County.

JAMES SPEED PIRTLE.  The name of Pirtle is inseparably connected with the
judicial history of Kentucky, and Judge Henry Pirtle and Judge James S.
Pirtle--father and son--have been pre-eminent in sustaining the dignity of
that divine justice which is meted out to every individual.
     James Speed Pirtle was born in Louisville, November 8, 1840.  His
father was a native of Washington county, Kentucky, and for more than fifty
years was a leading lawyer of Louisville.  His mother was Jane Ann Pirtle,
daughter of Dr. Coleman Rogers and a sister of Dr. Lewis Rogers, eminent
physicians of Louisville.  He obtained his early education in the public
schools of Louisville, and was the first graduate of the Louisville high
school, the collegiate department of the University of Louisville, where
he completed the course in 1859.  He then entered the law school, where
he was graduated in 1861 with the degree of LL.B.  From the beginning of
his professional career he has been a member of the Louisville bar.  In
1881 he served for four months as special judge of the law and equity
court, and from 1873 until 1881 was professor of equity jurisprudence and
commercial law in the University of Louisville.
     At the bar Mr. Pirtle occupied a conspicuous place among its leading
representatives.  He has long since left the ranks of the many and stands
with the successful few.  In all industries there is a tendency to
specializing.  Law has not escaped this tendency and has become divided
into various branches.  The more prominent practitioners, instead of
dissipating their energies over the broad field of jurisprudence,
concentrate upon one particular line and with distinction in this chosen
department.  There are many who do not properly apprehend the comparative
merits of civil and criminal practice or the important place which the
specialist in law has come to play in the carrying on of the world's
enterprises.  Mr. Pirtle has been especially concerned in the conduct of
equity, commercial and corporation litigation, and has been and is counsel
for some of the most extensive business concerns of Louisville.  His
intellect is vigorous and acute and his arguments are skillful, agreeable
and scholarly.  His keen perception seems to grasp almost intuitively the
strong point in his cause, and his comprehensive understanding enables him
to view every question from all possible standpoints.  He is not what is
called a "case" lawyer, for, although familiar with the decisions of the
courts and knowing how to apply them, he is never at a loss when a point
is raised upon which there has been no adjudication, his knowledge of the
principles of the law enabling him to apply them to the new issue and to
point out the grounds for new precedents in judicial decision.  As a
speaker he is clear and concise, dealing in no flights of oratory, but
logically marshaling his point and arguing them in the most effective
style.
     On the 22d of may, 1878, Judge Pirtle married Miss Emily M. Bartley.
He is a member of the Filson and Salmagundi Clubs and a past master of
Falls City Lodge of Masons.  His political support is given the Democracy,
but he has never sought or held office by popular election.  He is an
attendant on the Episcopal services of Christ Church cathedral, and his
charity and benevolence have brightened many a home.  He was president
of the board of visitors of the Kentucky Institution for the Education of
the Blind from 1888 to 1896, and was president of the Louisville City
National Bank from 1882 to 1895; but, whatever he may have accomplished in
other directions of business activity since his admission to the bar, he
regards as only incidental to his real career, for it has been the law that
has commanded his best thoughts and most absolute devotion.  His success
in life is attributed to his own force of character, having for its
actuating influence integrity and admirable fixedness of purpose.

Pirtle Rogers Bartley
=
Washington-KY

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