Judge — January 14, 1911 — page 5: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This Judge magazine page features an illustration titled "The Supreme Court, the Guardian of Our Prosperity." It depicts a judge in robes holding the scales of justice, with one side labeled "RICH" and the other "POOR"—clearly unbalanced toward the wealthy side. The scales themselves appear tilted, emphasizing judicial bias favoring the rich. The "JUDGE" header at top suggests this is the magazine's masthead or section marker. The satire criticizes the Supreme Court for failing to protect ordinary citizens' interests, instead appearing to serve wealthy interests. The cartoon implies the Court's supposed role as "guardian of our prosperity" is compromised—it protects only the wealthy while neglecting the poor. This likely reflects early 20th-century progressive-era criticism of judicial decisions favoring corporate and wealthy interests over workers and the working class.