Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-16
EXCITED ATTORNEYS.

They Are Opposed Te The Trial
 Justice Bill-WHn Go To Hartford
 And Fight At With All Their
 Might.
 The attorneys of this city were excited yesterday over the fact that the Judlc- iary committee of the legislature had agreed to report favorably the trial justice bill. The same bill, which it is understood was drafted by William J. Hamersley of Hartford, came before the legislature last year and there was so much opposition to it that the committee reported it back with the recommendation that it be continued to the present session and be printed with the laws. This fact seems to have somehow been lost sight of by the opponents of the bill. Again, MT. Ham ersley happens to be member of the leg islature this year and is also 0 member of the Judiciary committee, and it was quite natu ral that he should look after bill that he so earnestly advocated last year.
 Should the bill become law it would make very decided change in the trial of minor causes While it does not do away with justices of the peace it provides that the trial justices shall be appointed from the justices of the peace in each county; that there shall be four such trial justices in Hart ford county, five in New Haven, five in Fair field, four in Litchfeld, four in New London, three in Middlesex, three in Windham, three in Holland It further provides that the trial justices i'll each county shall meet di- rectly after their appointment to choose a presiding justice and prescribe his duties, divide the county into convenient cir cults and to assign circuits to each a;S jury in the justice courts shall consist of six jurors. The trial justices are to be appoint ed by two judges of the Superior court desig- mated at meeting of the judges held for that purpose They shall receive $5 day and expenses Appeals shall all be to the Superior court where an appeal is allowed. Yesterday afternoon there was meeting of the bar in the Court of Common Pleas room to take action in regard to the proposed law The meeting was largely attended and E. P. Arvine presided.
 Attorney Henry G. Newton explained the general provisions of the bill. He said that in all civil cases where the amount involved was S100 or less, and in all criminal cases where the fine did not exceed $100 and sixty days imprisonment these courts would have final jurisdiction. The effect would be to prevent trials coming to the Court of Con- mon Pleas and would therefore leave but little for those courts to do. The law also provides that persons arrested for any crime may be tried by jury if they so elect, but shall not be entitled to but one trial. City courts are given the same jurisdiction as trial justice courts.
 Judge Deming said that over 1000 criIni- nal cases were tried in his court last year and under the proposed law every drunkard and every wife beater and every other criminal could be tried by jury if they saw fit. Such a plan, said the judge, is entirely impractical ble. Again it would take away all the-civil business from the City court and the Court of Common Pleas. He hoped that @ com mittes would be appointed to go to Hartford and do all in their power to defeat the bill.
 Attorney Charles H. Fowler moved that & committee be appointed to draw up remon- strance and present the same for signatures. It was ordered and Attorneys Fowler, Whe- don and Blydenburgh were appointed.
 Attorney Hugh Daley said the law was entirely impracticable so far as New Haven was concerned.
 Professor w. K Townsend moved that in the opinion of the Bar association the pro posed law should not be passed. The motion passed unanimously.
 Attorney Kleiner thought they should go slow in this matter. He said if there was any way to get rid of pocket justices" it should be done
 Attorney Strouse said that the proposed law would create pocket justices instead of doing away with them.
 Corporation Counsel Driscon said that there was not single feature in the bill that would commend it to New Haven lawyers and every effort should be made to defeat it.
 On motion, committee consisting of At torneys Townsend, Whedon; Fowler, w. B. Stoddard and Daley were appointed to go to Hartford and oppose the passage of the bill. It was also understood that Senator Robert son, Representatives, Pigotts of this city, and Futile, of East Haven, would use their best endeavors to defeat the bill when it came be- fore the legislature for action.
 The bar meeting was then adjourned.