New-York tribune., 1902-01-17
DON'T WANT MORE JUDGES
SUPREME COURT MEMBERS HERE THINK
CITY COURTS JURISDICTION
SHOULD BE EXTENDED.

Justices OF the Supreme Court In New-York
County and in Kings County are opposed 10 oiiIs
which have been introduced in the legislature. and
which described In The Tribune yesterday 70
amend the constitution so to permit Of the cleo
Of thirteen additional justices In the two coun-
ties and three more IN Erie County. They are op-
posed too TO Senator Slater's bill to permit the
Governor to assign county judges to act as supreme
Court justices in counties where the cases on the
calendar exceed two thousand. The Justices be-
Heve that the overcrowded condition of the calen-
dars Of this city could be relieved in part by legs-
laton to increase the Jurisdiction of the CITY Court
and provide for more judges OF those courts.
Justices Blanchard. OGOrrnan. Scott and TruaN
had an Informal talk on the situation on Nednes-
day evening. and their views were expressed yes
terday by Justice Truax. An examination OF the
calendar. he said. showed that It was overcrowded
with actions for damages. and In many cases the
verdicts for small sums. although large sums
We're sued for. Legislation TO increase the num-
Der OF Judges OF the City Court and TO remove the
restriction b. which verdcts for damages exceed
ing $1,000 cannot be obtained in those courts would
take many such cases from the calendar of the
Supreme Court. Then. ii has been suggested that
power remove all such actions to The City Court
be vested in the Appellate Division of the Supreme
Court. In that connection Justice Truax said:
\ larger bin Of costs can be taxed ny a success
tu plaintiff In the Supreme court than IN me Sily y,
a great many actions in this court which would
been suggested that it would be well if the code
were so amended that no costs should be awarded
Court had jurisdiction OF the action, and II might
Just well be brought there at least. that no
advantage in the way of costs should be gained
by bringing action in the Supreme Court which
might have been brought in the city Court
II was believed. Justice TruaX said that an
amendment to the constitution. provide for four
additional justices of the Supreme Court in New
York County would be wise. il there could be ad-
dltional court facilities provided. The fact was.
however. that additional justices could not relieve
the crowded condition of the calendars until there
were additional Courtrooms. There at present
trial terms of the Supreme Court than there
are courtrooms In this county. one part has TO
be adjourned regularly for lack of room. Plans
for enarEing and improving the County Courthouse
that Tweed stole millions In building have been
the Supreme Court will soon apply to the Board
OF Estimate and ApportOnment for an approprla-
tiOn of than 100000. 10 carry out the plan;
The work will require year or two. after the
money Is provided. but the justices believe that
II the constitution is be amended as 10 pro-
the present legislature that II can go before the
next and get before the voters in the election
OF 1903 -.
Speaking yesterday against Senator Slater's bill
Justice Gaynor said in Brooklyn;
TO send Judges elected to such inferior courts
down here to try our complicated and important
commercial litigation, that a lawyer here mas 10
grow up to, and the like OF which Is almost un-
known to most parts OF the State and wholly un-
the administration OF justice II seems TO me. but
do the very reverse. And II would at the same
time degrade the Supreme Court. our great court
of unlimited original jurisdiction.