The Washington times., 1902-08-18
Supreme Court Interests
Really Demand That
One Be Named
PRESIDENT IS PETITI0NED
Litigants, as Well as Members of Bar,
Request That Some One Familiar
With Local Cases Be Appointed
Some Important Litigation.

In about six weeks the summer re
cess OF the supreme Court of the Dis
trict will be over. Then a long pc
riod of hard work will be begun by the
members OF the bench OF the District
courts and the members Of the bar.
Since the beginning OF the court holi-
days on July l last there has been a
good deal OF siirmishing among counsel
in important litigations, in several in
stances the advantage sought being de
lay. for the purpose of preparation for
final hearing OF the issues in ques-
tion.
The rapidity with which the work con-
fronting the bench and bar will be pro-
ceeded with depends to great extent
on who is named by the President TO
fiji the vacancy on the bench of the
Supreme Court OF the District, caused
by the death of Associate Justice Brad
ley, who died just before the summer
recess commenced.
Some One Who Knows the Ropes.
With the great amount of work al
ready laid out for the court, ii is con-
tended by prominent members OF the
bar that the appointment OF some one
unfamiliar with the practice Of this ju-
risdiction would have a tendency rather
10 retard the business and increase the
difficulties than otherwise
There are a great number of important
matters both in the equity and criminal
branches OF the court which must Of
necessity and force of circumstances
come on for hearing at as early daJe
as possible.
There are murder cases. libel cases.
and other litigations on the criminal
side OF the court, in which the Govern
ment is a party. Then on the equity
side there are hundreds of divorce cases.
which. under the new code, will be a
most important feature, the Indian land
cases. the telephone cases. and several
matters pending in the Probate Court,
all of which local attorneys say will re-
quire the consideration Of lawyers we'll
posted in the practice in this jurisdic
tion for satisfactory and final adjudica-
tion.
Justice of Peace Cases.
Besides the cases referred to. The
question of the constitutionality OF the
appointment of the justices Of the peace
must of necessity come up for early de-
cision in the Supreme Court of the
District When the matter was on
some time ago for hearing It was post
poned until the second Tuesday in Oc-
tober That is the date on which the
Court of Appeals for the District Will
resume its sessions, and it is believed
that that date was fixed in order that il
an appeal is taken by either side. The
question can be heard Immediately by
the higher court. Then comes the Re
becca Taylor case, in which she asks
the court TO compel the Secretary OF War
TO reinstate her in position in the
War Department, from which she was
dismissed.
1t is said all these matters have
been called 10 the attention Of the
President. as a reason why he should
name a practitioner at the District bar
TO fill the vacancy on the bench of the
Supreme Court OF the District. Believing
that the President will consider the
matter solely from the standpoint of the
interests of the litigants, the wishes OF
the members of the bar, and the resi-
dents OF the District generally, the con-
sensus OF opinion is that a local man
will be nominated for the vacancy.