The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-05
COURT OF Claims IMPORTANT CIRCULAR
FROM THE SOLICITOR.


SoLcfroRs Offics, July o. 1858,
Sir desire TO call your attention TO the rules and
practice controlling business IN tho Court of Chains
The rule requiring the petition to be printed longer
exists and the claimant Is relieved from all expense Of
printing.
Documents and papers intended TO be relied upon as
evidence in cause, in whatever form the may eI-
list, we'll dispositions, must be Furnished complete
and filed with the Clerk, with references where the o
mails may be found, when copies instead OF the originals
are filed Ii in any language other than Lnglihh cor
rect translation must also be furnished and filed
When all the claimant evidence is in and filed with
the Clerk the petitioners counsel must make and fo
with the Clerk written schedule thereof together with
notice Ia writing that the evidence his part closed
When the testimony the part of the United States "a
closed the same course win bc pursued by the Solicitor
This notice and schedule will prevent any future m
prehenson concerning the evidence ~ BIO relied upon In
argument When the record Is thus completed, 1t vii be
indexed and printed In the same manner ~ records In tbs
Supreme Court printed When the record shall
been printed the claimant will he entitled 10 four
copies thereof preparatory to making and filing his brc
with the Clerk.
The brief should state and number tho several facts
which the claimant believes he has proved with references
to the page OF tho record where he thinks the evidence
is found establish them and if no chooses, he may
such portions Of the proof which no thinks will
establish the several facts He also should state and
number his propositions of law with reference to the
authorities which sustain them. Where statute or egu
lation of a department is involved the material parts
should be at length, and the essential parts of
eli nt,ry
ted 1t is advisable to add briefly the substance OF The
the conclusions which sought to be estab
lished The Solicitor win prepare his brief after seeing
that of the claimant and in doing he designs to pu
sue the which is recommended to the claim
ant. When both briefs completed and filed they will
be printed and part of the record which, with the
opinion of the court, is to be sent to Congress
This course will enable the parties to examine the whole
with and the court readily to understand the
points of fact and law in controversy. With compact
record containing the peadings and facts which In
evidence and the subjects and points of difference the
court will readily comprehend the case, and their deter
mination tmay be confidently assumed, VIII DO correct
With such advantages for full and clear understanding
of the views of both parties and Of the court Congress
will have little difficulty in forming its own conclusions
Cases not heretofore argued will be subject to the psC
tce above contemplated, and will be entered upon
special trial docket in the order In which they shall be
thus prepared for practical hearing by the actual filing
of the briefs No unargued BIC heard until the
testimony is closed both sides and schedule thereof
furnished to the Clerk with notice that It closed and
the record printed and briefs made and fled above
suggested They will be entered and heard in the order
in which these proceedings shall be actually completed
Cases not deemed difficult special the Solicitor
written application before his brief shall DO made, will
consent to submit upon the printed records and briefs
Justice to other suitors will induce the Solicitor to ad
here strictly the regular order Of business and
will not be taken up out Of their order ON the perfected
trial docket.
understand it is the intention of the court OF the
opening of the next session. to decide all cases heretofore
argued and submitted The ordered for reargume
will then be first taken up in their Order the docket
upon which they now stand.
1t is understood to he the intention Of the court here
after to go into consultation upon as fast agu
ed to decide them thereafter the members Of
the court properly investigate and prepare their writ
opinions with bills for carrying their decisions into
effect where favorable to the claimant according to the
intention of the act Of Congress establishing the court
1t is the wish Of the Solicitor to have each pre-
pared and presented that its whole merits may be easily
understood and fully considered and passed upon, with
the hope that the determination Of the court may be such
to satisfy both suitors and the public that ample JUS
tce has been done in the determination of the court
Very respectfully, =. II. GILLETi Solicitor.