Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-11
ton "a one they would do well to take
up and settle by practical answer right
away.
nm m,,yronD,s RESOLUTION.

The recent session or the virginia sta'o
por Association was one OF the most inter-
e,ting and important OF the many which
have been held by that body In recent
years. Probably the subject OF greatest
interest 10 the people at large which came
before Il for consideration was the move
ment inaugurated some time since LOT
the reduction OF the expenses or our
judiciary system We have heretofore pun
llshed the report of the committee having
in charge this subject, OF which Mr.. John
C. Parker, member OF the House OF Dele
gates from Southampton county. was
chairman. BY this report II was recon-
rnended that our circuit and county
courts. as at present organized. should
be abolished. and a system OF district
courts, having jurisdiction TO hear and
determine both civil and criminal causes,
should be substituted in their stead; that
the present Office of Commonwealth Al
torney in each county should be abolish
ed and n District Attorney substituted
in its stead; that the Office OF County
and Circuit Court clerks should be
abolished. and the duties imposed upon
a new officer, to be known as the Re-
corder, in each county, who. In addition
should have jurisdiction over the pro-
batting of Wills. the settlement OF estates.
etc. BY these changes, thus briefly de-
scribed. II was thought that large
saving could be made TO the state In
the cost OF maintaining her judiciary
system, and at the same time give the
people courts holding more frequent
terms, with judges enjoying larger sala-
ries.
AS might be expected. resolution
working such radical changes in our
judiciary system was greeted in that
assembly OF lawyers with much diversity
Of opinion. and from many with violent
opposition. 1t was at this juncture OF az
fairs that Mr.. Munford offered his reso-
luton. which was adopted by unani-
nous vote, virtually. This resolution
q copy OF which we have before us, reads
as follows:
Resolved, That the Virginia State Bar
Association commends to the General AS
sembly of Virginia the enactment Of such
legislation and the submission 10 the peo-
pie of such constitutional amendments as
will secure n reduction in the number or
our circuit and county-court judges. 1t
is the sense of this association that the
business of our courts can be efficiently
discharged by a greatly reduced number
Of circuit and county-court judges"
Mr.. Munford, in support Of this resolu-
ton. declared that q reduction in the ex-
penses Of our state Government was i'm
perative; that the Bar of Virginia should
lead in this work OF reform; that during
tho past fifteen years there had been
great falling off IN the business Of our
courts: that It was an admitted fact that
at least one-third Of our present circuit
court judges could be dispensed with, and
that in like manner, probably. half Of
the county-court judges could be dis
pensed with. He pointed out that so far
as the circut-court judges were con-
cerned. the desired relief could be secured
at the expiration OF the terms OF the in
cumbents by a rearrangement and les
SEEMING Of the number of circuits. which
power was lodged in th9General Assem-
bly,. Thus on the death of the late Judge
Taylor Berry, that circuit had been abol-
ished and the counties composing 1t dis
tributed among the circuits presided over
by Judges White, Grimsley, and Cole
man. This plan. carried into operation,
Mr. Munford insisted, would enable the
state to pay to the judges Of the new
circuits larger salaries and yet secure
considerable saving. He stated that It
would be necessary to secure the passage
OF constitutional amendments authorizing
the Legislature to group into districts
two or more counties, to be presided over
by county-court judges. but he said that
by this Arrangement larger salaries could
be paid the new appointees and a con-
siderable sum saved to the state. These
reasons, presented by Mr.. Munford, seem
TO have been accepted by the association.
The foregoing resolution. as we have
stated, was adopted with scarcely
negative vote We regard this action as
important. because here we have 1t from
the highest authority that this State is
maintaining more courts than are neces.
sary. Now 1t will rest with the Legis,a-
ture TO determine whether the proposed
plan will effect the saving desired. If 1t
will not, some other plan will have to be
sought for, and, we doubt not. Will be
found.