Changes

=== Judge Hardy ===

=== Judge Hardy ===

Judge James Hardy himself had several story arcs, most of which revolved around his work as a judge. In the first film, he clashes with a shady water-project builder who tries to influence the judge's rulings by planting false scandals about the judge's married daughter in the town newspaper and even fomenting a movement to remove the judge from the bench. Having survived that fiasco, the judge almost loses his home after the vindictive newspaper editor swindles him. The judge survives that, too, and then receives an appointment to a utilities commission in Washington--where unscrupulous politicians also try to influence the judge by coaxing information from the judge's younger daughter, Marion. Through it all, the judge refuses to be manipulated and bases all his rulings on the letter of the law and a proper determination of equity.

Judge James Hardy himself had several story arcs, most of which revolved around his work as a judge. In the first film, he clashes with a shady water-project builder who tries to influence the judge's rulings by planting false scandals about the judge's married daughter in the town newspaper and even fomenting a movement to remove the judge from the bench. Having survived that fiasco, the judge almost loses his home after the vindictive, frustrated, and conniving aqueduct builder induces him to make a major mistake in co-signing a note shortly before the property for the failed water project goes into foreclosure. The judge survives that, too, and on the strength of his experience with the water project he receives an appointment to a utilities commission in Washington--where unscrupulous politicians also try to influence the judge by coaxing information from the judge's younger daughter, Marion. Through it all, the judge refuses to be manipulated and bases all his rulings on the letter of the law and a proper determination of equity.

His reputation for integrity well-established, the judge soon travels to Arizona to help a friend who is threatened with the loss of water rights--and discovers that the other party is benefiting from the earlier diversion of a river and must, by law, restore the river to its original course. Soon afterward, the judge receives word that he might be entitled to a multimillion-dollar legacy--but then turns up evidence, to which he alone has access, that he is not so entitled. In perhaps the most poignant demonstration of personal integrity that the series offers, the judge presents the evidence and declines the legacy--and learns in the process that the testator's conniving relatives had thought to entrap him.

His reputation for integrity well-established, the judge soon travels to Arizona to help a friend who is threatened with the loss of water rights--and discovers that the other party is benefiting from the earlier diversion of a river and must, by law, restore the river to its original course. Soon afterward, the judge receives word that he might be entitled to a multimillion-dollar legacy--but then turns up evidence, to which he alone has access, that he is not so entitled. In perhaps the most poignant demonstration of personal integrity that the series offers, the judge presents the evidence and declines the legacy--and learns in the process that the testator's conniving relatives had thought to entrap him.