Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-20
The LOCAL JUDCESH|P
Members of the Bar Inter
ested in Selection.
SEVERAL CANDIDATES
MIR. A. B. DUvALL REGARDED AS
FORMIDABLE.
Meetings Of the Friends Of Each
Aspirant-The Partisans
All Confident.
SEVERAL CANDIDATES

A majority Of the members Of the local
bar. 1t is safe to say. neglected business to-
day as a result Of the interest they are
taking IN the matter of filling the vacancy
| in the Office of associate justice of the Su-
preme Court of the District of Columbia
Meetings were held In scores Of offices in
the city hall neighborhood. and the situa-
ton was carefully gone over time and
again.
All seem to agree that a man should be
appointed to the bench who is thoroughly
familiar with the, practice and laws of
the District. and whose legal attachments
and experience at the local bar fit him for
the prompt assumption and discharge of the
duties of justice of the District Supreme
Court.
1t developed today that Mr.. Andrew B.
Duvall. the city solicitor. is in the field,
and is very strongly backed for the ap
position to know assert that Mr.. Duvall IS
the most formidable competitor of Mr..
Ashley M. Gould. the present United States
attorney Mr.. Gould's friends are most
confident
They contend that with few exceptions
he has the pledged support of practically
the entire bar, including it's recognized lead
ers. Those who favor the appointment of
Mr.. Benjamin F. Leighton. president Of the
Bar Association, have also been comforting
They appear to bubbling over with hope of
success.
Three Leading Candidates.
Mr.. Gould. Mr.. Duvall and Mr.. Leighton.
to judge from the condition of things this
afternoon, may be said to be the only cam
didates in the field who are attracting much
attention.
number of others are mentioned, In
Guiding Mr.. Arthur A. Birney formerly
United States attorney; Mr.. H. Randall
Of hn r,a1
friend of President Roosevelt. and Mr.. Z.
H. Thomas. assistant city solicitor.
Either Mr. Duvall or Mr.. Leighton, 1t Is
thought by many, stands a very good
| chance Of being selected by the President
In this connection 1t Is recalled that after
Justice Cox retired several years ago Pres
ident Mckinley was assured that either
would be acceptable to the members of the
bar. ,
Mr.. Barnard was selected. The friends
of Mr.. Leighton. it is said. today issued a
circular letter urging those who Endorsed
him before to be consistent and recon-
| mend his appointment at this time
Mr.. Duvalls cohorts are working quietly
and not disclosing their plans. 1t is known
that certain Of the older members of the
bar have already communicated to the
President the fact that they favor the ap-
po1ntment Of Mr.. Gould.
AS Possibility.
| Senator McLaurin Of South Carolina has
been mentioned as a possibility for the
place The consensus of opinion is, how
| ever, that the appointee will be local
man. especially in view of the fact that the
present state of business of the court re-
quires that the new justice shall be a man
| of energy and one thoroughly familiar with
| the local laws and practice. 1t is further
stated. in support of the theory that the APP
polntee will be from the District, that two
! other vacancies on the District Supreme
bench are expected within year.
| The retirements will be those of men ap-
| pointed from outside the District and the
President will have their places at his dis
| posal.
The possibility that Mr.. Gould will be ele-
waited to the bench has suggested several
persons for appointment to succeed him as
United States attorney. Messrs D. W.
Baker. E. H. Thomas, Chaplin Brown and
| Chas. Maurice Smith are mentioned 1t is
| also said that in the event Mr. DuvaII is
| made judge Mr.. Thomas will be named
| for the office of city solicitor