The San Francisco call., 1896-11-23
WORKING FOR NEW
SUPERIOR COURTS
E P. Cole Will Present a
Bill to the Next
Legislature.
He Asserts That Attorneys and
Judges Favor an Increased
Judiciary.
Data to Be Submitted Showing the
CongesteG Condition of the
Court Calendars.

The most absorbing topic OF converse
tion among politicians and attorneys yes
terday was the movement started some
days ago, as exclusively announced in
THE CALL, for an increase of the judicia ~
in San Francisco. Many politicians were
surprised when they learned that a fight
would be made at the next Legislature for
at least three new Superior judges for this
City and County. They discussed the
probabilities, pro and con, from their own
points of view, but were completely at sea
as to the significance of the matter, not
knowing that the whole thing was in the
hands OF several attorneys, whose only in
terest was to 80 increase the judiciary as
to guarantee prompt disposit ton of law
cases that now frequently run along for
months.
The Superior Judges themselves are IA
vorably disposed toward the proposed bill,
as they are overworked and protest they
cannot reach all the work before them.
Am ong the most ardent supporters of
the Dill Is Judge ]. C. Hebbard who has
mentioned the matter in court. Mr.. Heg-
gerty of knight & Heggerty, CARRIER,
Boalt d Bishop, e. 2. Cole, b. Healy and
other prominent lawyers are among those
who declare that bill providing for three
10 six new Superior Judges in this City
should be passed by the next Legislature.
1t is no uncommon thing to hear their
protests against delav in the Superior
courts which effectually bars the business
of their respective offices.
The bill will be introduced by E. P.
Cole, who has taken up the quest on with
q conviction that immediate relief in the
way of expedlting court procedure is de-
manded by local attorneys as an absolute
necessity.
''The calendars of the Superior courts
are so congested," said he, ''that an attor-
ney cannot get case on trial for months
and months after it is at issue. In fact
have had cases at issue since last April,
and cannot yet get hearing.
II have gone into this thing and shall
carry it to the Legislature. The County
Clerks office has promised to give me the
mum ber of cases at issue, but which have
not yet been called for trial. One-half the
cases at issue are not published on the
calendar OF the Law Journal. And yet the
Superior judges work very hard and have
done more Work than any other judges in
the Sta fe.
The delay on account of the congested
condition of the calender is very injurious
to litigants and of course very detrimental
to the business of attorneys. You 60 out
to court time and again and cannot get q
hear1ng-other cases are on trial, or there
is something else in the way.
II will present a bill! to the Legislature
providing for an increase from twelve to
fifteen or eighteen Superior Judges. As
the conditions are three Judges would give
additional relief, but l think that six new
Judges would be necessary to keep the
calendar OPEN"
How did the movement for an increase
of Judges originated" he was asked.
81 have thought OF it for some time
past and told many lawyers OF nv
opinions. l find it meets the approval oi
q great many lawyers, though few are
opposed to it. 1t is an injustice to the
people to compel them to wait SO long be-
lore they get a determination of their
cases. Necessity originated the move for
an increase of the judiciary"
bill?''
II don't know what others are doing.
Ny opinion is that there is a general sen.
timent in favor of the measure. 1 am
doing it for an increase of t judiciary,
and for that only, acting disinterestedly
without having in view any one to ele-
vate- l cannot see how we can get along
without more Superior Judges. Los An
geles has six, Sacramento three. Oakland
four. There has been an increase gener.
ally all through the State.
San Francisco, which, ] presume, has
half the litigation of California, never had
an increase since the constitution of 1875
went into effecl, yet San Francisco is the
home of nearly all the big corporations oil
California, and there has been great In.
crease in the population and busines.
since 1879 The measure is one for the
public benefit Some of the civil depart.
ments had recently to assist the crimina al
Judges on account of the excess of busi
ness. The Judges cannot do any more
than they are doing. I've talked with q
good many lawyers, and they have IA
vored it.
THE bill will have plenty of backing.
for there will be any number of lawyers in
Sacramento to fight for 1t. Its details,
presume, will be arranged by the Judici-
aTy Com mittee if il is passed at all. Talk
ing about expense, the cost of three or si1
extra Superior Judses to the people i:
nothing when compared with the expense
now posed on people are trying tc
get their cases tried in the courts, and suf
fer financially through unreasonable de.
lays"