The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29
BROOKLYN LAWYERS ALSO ACT
,,,I FOR LEGTSLiTTJE ACTION
ON IT STICE HOOhER.
r,beracsasC Charged Are True lie should
lie Removed or ImDcached- 'rlminai
prncrcdlnts Barred Republicans Lead
,t,r,, -~tnte Iiar May Reconsider


l,,,,u that the facts against Justice
warren y Hooker of the Supreme Court
,,5 ly the grievance committee of the
c,,,o Br Association, whose report was
,,,oi,nou-Iy adopted by the association
,,,1r, prompt and searching investi-
.,,i,p ly the State Legislature,
,t,. Investigation contains the findings
= t,,t of the State Bar Associations com
.,i,tee then the Brooklyn Bar Associations
,o.oryiau- declare. in terse, stern language
Tho, .u.,ira Rockers conduct has been
.tsrcb a character as 20 show him to be
oae, TO continue to hold judicial office
snd sFnri. sufficient cause for his removal
49,. concurrent resolution of both branches
~ tho Legislature, or for his impeachment
bv the Assembly
There ara two ways by which a Judge
nav he removed from the bench One il
hv concurrent resolution and the other ia
hr irreachment. In order to remove by
,r,,aacbnent 1t is necessary to show that
,bs accused has committed acts which
make hin lndiCtable IA a felon. When.
therefore tho Bar associations of New York
and BROOKLYN by formal resolution, passed
in both cases without dissenting voice,
characterize the alleged acts of Justice
Hooker IS ahording cause for impeach-
rant il - equivalent to saying that Justice
Hooker is indictable az felon, provided
the legislative investigation confirms the
finding Of facts reported by the State Bar
Associations committee.
50 far "a criminal proceedings against
Justice Hooker are concerned said
BROOKLYN lawyer who was at the Bar
Association meeting yesterday that is
out Of the question. Justice Hooker is
fully protected by the statute of limitations
inst as was Congressman Littauer in the
matter Of those Government glove con-
tracts
Like the New York Bar Associations
meeting on Friday evening that of the
Brooklvn association Yesterday was short
nut meaty. II was held in the Law Library
rooms IN the County Court House and was
N largely attended that it overlooked out
Into the hall. Corporation Counsel james
p Rel. president of the association. pre-
sided As was the case in New York the
onti7c initiative against Justice Hooker
was taken hy Republicans in order that
there might not be the slightest excuse for
charging that political partisanship was
hack of the movement. Chairman Bell
H. a Democrat. but Frank Harvey Field,
who introduced the resolution. is n Re-
Publican, and 30 IL James McKeen. Cor
pordtiuu Counsel for Brooklyn in the last
administration, who seconded it Two
oi the four men who spoke 10 The resolu
tlors ara Republicans. These are Robert
H Wilson and George f Waldo. The
others who spoke we're Edward NJ. Shepard
and Robert IL Elder None OF the speakers
took no much time. but all of them con-
demned the FleiscEman resolution passed
hy the State Bar Association as contrary
70 law.
II had been rumored in Brooklyn for
several days back that there would DO an
effort on the part OF some Of Justice Hook
trs friends to sidetrack condemnation Of
Justice Hooker at this meeting, or, at all
events. so to modify the resolutions as to
-euder them practically harmless. 1t was
expected that an attempt would be made to
prevent the adoption of the clause of the
resolution declaring that the facts reported
10y the State Bar Associations committee,
II substantiated made Justice Hooker un-
fit to At on the bench and made him liable
to removal by concurrent resolution or
TO impeachment.
If Justice Hooker's friends in yesterdays
meeting had any such wish 1t did not once
break cover in the proceedings. Not n
voice was raised either in Justice Hooker's
defence or by way Of effort 10 modify the
action against him. When Chairman Bell
put the question on the passage Of the
resolutions there was not vote IN the mega
tive. The resolutions as adopted are as
follows
Whereas, at n meeting o! the New York
State Bar Association held at Albany. y Y,
on or about the 18th day OF January 1904,
attention OF the New York State Bar Asso cia-
ton "a certain facts set forth in a report of
Assistant Postmaster-ie General Bristow re-
neCJng uuon the conduct OF Mr. Justice
Warren 3. Hooker OF the Supreme Court OF
this state. and the New York state Bar As
s7ciatlon having referred SAID matters 10
ia grievance committee for an invest CATION
and report at the next meeting and said
grievance committee having investigated
these matters az fully as could be done with
out compulsory process, and having sub
miucd their report, with certain findings OF
fact 70 the New York state Bar Asso ciation
al rs meeting held ia the city OF Albany on
the 18Th day OF January. 1905 and said report
and findings having beer Unanimously
adopted by the New York state Bar Associa-
tor nov, therefore. be u
Ec-4ntd. hat IN the opinion OF this asso-
q iuuu the facts so unanimously found 10y
me grievance committee OF the state Bar
ASSOCIATION. whose report was adopted by
me State Bar Association itself. require
prompt aud searching legislative inyestiga-
ton
Boolred. That IT, upon such Investigation
such facts shnll be established. the conduct
oi Nh lu-tic" Hooker has been Of such char
acter MS % show him TO be unfit 20 continue
20 hold judicial Office and sufficient cause
EXISTS ior hi, removal from office b. con
current resolution of both houses OF The
legislature OF the State OF New York. or for
~. Impeachment by the Assembly further
Rcs0F,f. hat the president appoint five
Isl members Of this association, who. together
with the pres dent Of this association, shall
Constitute "a committee. Such committee IS
hereby in- rIctcd 10 cause duly cert fled
copv of those pre1mbles and resolutions 10
10 irtrsuttrd to the Speaker Of the Assem-
speCHl request that he cause the same TO
b. Introduced and referred to the proper
committee Tor action The committee hereby
appointed shall have power TO appear IN
hehIli n' this as ociatiou before such COM
n.'t-e of fhe Assembly. 10 retain counsel,
and rom time TO time 10 take such further
~ otAar hr lon ln the foregoing matters
ana '1N other matters Il may deem I'M
loriNt, 1- TO II may seem reasonable, Just
and urrTnr
Tho preamble 10 the resolutions embodies
No inIl list of the findings Of fact by the
grievance committee Of the State Bar Asso-
cation. bot contains no reference TO Justice
honker recent letter asking for legis-
.atyr Investigation The preamble TO the
New y prk Bar Associations resolutions
embodied this letter Of Justice Hooker
This movement against Justice Hooker