The Washington times., 1903-10-12
LOCAL LAWYER NEEDED
FOR DISTRICT JUSTICE
Washington Bar Says He
Could Clear Dockets.
BUSINESS IS SUFFERING
Many Important Causes Delayed Be-
cause Justice Hagner's Successor
Has Not Been Appointed.

The condition of affairs in the District
Supreme Court, because of the vacancy
on the bench. which naturally caused a
reduction in the working force Of JUS
tees, has appealed to the members OF
the Washington bar. and in turn they
have urged the President TO nominate g.
successor TO Justice Alexander b. Haz-
ner, retired. When the vacancy on the
| bench occurred last June local LAWYERS
were very active In pressing the norni-
nation of several Washingtonians for
favorable consideration by the Presi-
dent. 1t the same time friends OF as
pirants for judicial honors beyond this
jurisdiction urged their appointment for
the position made vacant by the retire
ment Of Justice Hagner.
For several months the matter lay dor
mant. as il were, and not until very re-
Gently has II been revived. his was
only few days ago. when delegation
composed of several of the most proni-
nent Washington lawyers called upon
Attorney General Knox and requested
him to urge upon the President the ne
cessity Of giving the question considera-
tion at the earliest practicable moment
Asks for Records.
Since then. it is said. the President
has asked for the records Of three local
lawyers whose friends early in the cam
paign for the justiceship had urged their
appointment. This news has inspired
greet activity among the friends OF the
local applicants for the vacancy on the
District bench. and the fitness of the
aspirants VIII now no doubt be strongly
presented TO the President before he
makes a nomination for the position.
Early in the campaign for the vacant
iusticeship 1t was rumored that it was
not the intention of the President to
make a nomination for the position until
after the November elections. This no
doubt had all to do with the inactivity
OF the friends of the local aspirants In
the summer months.
Crowded Dockets.
The opening of the October term of the
Supreme Court Of the District with over
crowded dockets has. however. recalled
the necessity for an early appointment.
Attorneys who have a great many c fuses
pending In the different branches or the
court appreciate the fact that with a
vacancy on the bench there is very lit
tie probability of finishing their work at
the present term.
1t is also recognized that the appoint
ment Of a lawyer TO the bench from a
foreign Jurisdiction. and who is unac-
quainted with the practice here. will
afford but little. If any. relief at the
present term Of court
IL is generally agreed that a local law
yer, If appointed. because Of his knoWI-
edge of the laws in force in the District.
viii be able 10 afford immediate relief.
whereas a practitioner from a foreign
Jurisdiction, unacquainted with the Dis
trict laws, would not be able 70 accom-
plish much in the near future
Local Men Qualified.
Aside from this reason washington
lawyers contend that those whom they
have urged for the nomination are in
every way qualified for the position. and
under the urgency OF conditions there Is
10 good cause why the President should
not select one of them TO fill the va
cancy on the District bench.
Among those who have been promi-
nently mentioned as being emlnently
qualified to fill the position are Arthur
A. Birney formerly United States At
torney for the District; Benjamin F.
Leighton, Andrew b. DuvaH. Corpora
10" CDNii9ei' NAVi gan II. btdcn, United
States Attorney for the District: Hugh
T. Taggart. Assistant United States At
torney for the District, and others
equally well fitted in every way to MI
the vacancy.
Foreign Candidates.
Those who are not residents OF the
District and whose appointment mas
been urged upon the President are ].
Writ Randall. of Annapolis. Nd: Judge
d. Thew Wright, and Judge HOLSTER.
both of Cincinnati, and Representativ