The Washington bee., 1901-08-31
JUDGE O'DONNELL.
HE WILL SUCCEED JUDGE
KlMBALL.
The New Code Requires New Judges. The
Attorney 0eneral will Sc Decide.

IL
Judge Scott may be his own successor.
Members OF the bar would welcome q
change.
The members of the District bar are
considerably interested in the status
OF the Police Court under the new
code of laws of the District which was
enacted at the last session of Con-
gress and which goes into effect lam
uary I. A possible reorganization of
the Police Court is subject of specu-
latlon and the Attorney General will
probably be requested to examine the
law and determine whether or not the
act OF the last Congress establishes a
new court and neCessitates the an
polntment of new justices, or whether
1t simply continues the old system
with the old officers.
The question involved is full of
teChnicalities and some local attor-
neyS are of the opinion that Attorney
General Knox will have his hands full
IN deciding just what the status of the
Police Court is. Should he decide
that the new law provides for the en-
tire reorganization of the court there
will be determined effort TO organ
ize the tribunal on entirely new lines.
A fight among the legal lights would
also be preCipitated for the position Of
police Justice that will bring out every
possible force the members of the To-
cal bar can exert. The fight will be
entirely in the appointment of the
Judges, about whom there has been
controversy from time TO time.
LANGUAGE OF THE CODE.
oh ~ Of
which relates TO the Police Court states
that there shall continue to be
a Police Court in the District, as at
present. consisting of two Judges,
learned in law, appointed by the Pres
ident," &c. The question that arises
among the attorneys is, does this man
ner OF phraSing the law make neces-
sary the reorganization of the COURT
1t is said that the entire question
hinges on the Interpretation of the
words "as at present" the contention
OF number OF attorneys being that
the law provides for an entirely new
court, while others are of the opinion
that the words quoted give the Presi-
dent the power TO continue the court
as at present. The law does not be-
come effective until the Ist day of Jan
nary, 1902, but an examination of the
code has led to much discussion of the
question, and many attorneys who
have thoroughly considered the doc
ument are of the opinion that a new
court will be provided, and they have
set to work accordingly.
Justice John H. O'Donnell, at pres
ent presiding over the United States
branch of the Police Court, in the abb
sence of Judge Charles +. Scott. fired
the first gun in the campaign for the
| police judgeship, should new court
| be decided upon, Saturday, when he
hurriedly went to Canton to consult
with President Mckinley. II under
stood that Judge O'Donnell is anxious
to obtain an appointment on the pol
| ice bench, and has several times in the
past been named as a candidate for the
position. 1t is understood that Judge
O'Donnell went to Canton for the ex-
press purpose of applying to President
Mckinley for the position, although
the Judge will not confirm or deny this
| statement.
ENDORSEMENTS FOR O'DONNELL.
Many of the attorneys having busi-
in the Police Court, and number OF
| other members of the District bar are
backing Judge O'DOnnell in his can
didacy, and will do all they can to
further his plans. Since his appoint
ment as the temporary Justice
at the Police Court Judge O'Don-
nell has had some very difficult
cases to decide, and he has dealt with
the litigation before him in a manner
| L;obIxy y,IaaaiuU IN the bar.
The terms of the present judges Of
the Police Court, unless there IS a re-
organization, will not expire for some
wears vet, each OF than being reap
1ointed about a year ago 10 the posi-
lions that they now hold. Should it
| he decided that the present Polices
lCourt goes out Of existence Cn the 3Is
tof december, however, the terms Of
tbe Judges will expire then, as they
were appointed to preside over the
court as il now stands. Il is the gen
eraI opinion Of the members Of the
bar that at least one OF the present
Judges will be appointed 70 the new
court, which one no one seems to be
in a position to state. Both Judge
Scstt and Judge Kimball have OCCu-
MED the bench at the Police Court for
several wears, and have, in majority
lof cases, given satisfaction TO the po-
Ilice department, with which they have
more directly TO deal. Judge Kimball
lis one Of the authors Of the present
vagrancy law, which has from time TO
| time caused a great deal Of contention
among the attorneys, who practice
before him, and which has been OF
great assistance to the police in clear
ing the city Of disreputable characters
who could not otherwise be dealt
Nth