The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-09
OUTLINE IS GIVEN
OF new COURT BILL
For Consolidation of All Courts
of the State
DRAWN BY V. [. THOMPSON
Will Be introduced at the Next SEES
sion Of the LeslsIature-Lawyers
Are Asked to crlticise
the Plan.
DRAWN BY v. |. THOMPSON

Won l.. thompson, who will introduce
a Consolidated Court bill' in the next
legislature. stated yesterday that he had
drawn the measure and made the follow
ing statement in regard to it:
'The bill provides for consolidation
of all chancery, criminal and city courts
throughout the entire state with the cir
cult court, to have the same jurisdiction
that the circuit. court, chancery court.
criminal court and city court have now;
for a redistrictlng of the counties
throughout the state, and forming them
into a sufficient number of circuits and
with sufficient number of judges to
transact the business of each circuit with
out allowing the dockets to become so
clogged as to practically deny the llti-
giants justice.
outline of Bill.
"Ths bill provides that courts shall be
held in each and every county In the
state at least four times year, and to
continue In session until the business
has been disposed of. For instance, a
county like jefferson will be a circuit
to itself and court will be in session the
year round except three months in the
summer, as at present. Other counties
like Montgomery and Mobile will be sep
arate circuits.
'As to which counties, however, will
compose certain circuits, will of course
be left entirely with the citizens of those
counties. 1t would be too lengthy an
give the entire details of this bill. 1t
has been my desire all the time to frame
bill that would have in 1t as little
ground for antagonism as possible. 1
want to say that this bill will not an
tagonize the chancellors, city and GRIM
inal court judges, registers in chancery,
or the clerks of the respective courts
I firmly believe that when the bill is
properly understood 1t will meet with
the hearty approval of a large number of
the lawyers and litigants throughout the
state.
I'm my practice I have felt and seen
the need and do now of some relief from
congested conditions of the docket. Our
dockets at the present time are crowded
to such an extent that it is practically
a bar to Justice in this county, The
machinery of our courts is so impracti-
cable to the present and future needs of
this county especially. as well as the rest
Of the state. that 1t is inadequate and
1t is out of the question to get relief
without remodelling our judiciary sys-
tenn.
What is the use in having a circuit
judge and a chancellor to travel the
same road, go to the same places, expend
the same fare and time, when 1t could be
done by one man? What Is the use In hay
ing three courts, separate and distinct,
with separate and distinct jurisdiction. or
rather the jurisdiction of the same mat
tiers and the same kind of litigation in one
court house, in one city and each one
powerless to assist the other?
zone court is doing nothing while the
other is rushed to death. All the dockets
may be in a crowded condition yet 1t so
happens on a certain day that something
turns up that one of the courts will have
nothing to do, Notwithstanding that the
business of that court is two years behind
. time, yet it is powerless under our ma
chinery to do anything under those cir
cumstances. Under the systcm which I
propose in my bill no court can be at lels-
ure unless the entire business for the con-
solidated court has been finished for that
day. 1t will save this county thousands of
dollars annually for jury fees, 1t will
save the lltigant enormous amounts of
cost in having their witnesses to appear
in court and to have their cases tried and
not continued. 1t will be a saving to
everybody
Something Startling.
1.-THE condition of our docket at the
present time 10 something startling. 1t is
the talk of the bar and everything is
crying for relief. and 1t is with this one
thing in view that I have devoted my
time and study to the framing of such
bill as hope and believe and feel quite
assured will relieve the condition.
II wish the lawyers of the state would
criticize the bill from the plan outlined
in what l have said, and that they would
write me their opinions, and also make
such suggestions as they may sec fit. At
some near day In the future I expect
" tdil q hitctihS VI ihciiiptio VI iHC pdi
and others who would like to attend at
Montgomery for the purpose of perfecting
this bill, and recommending 1t to the leg
isature. A bill of this kind is far-reach-
ing, and the man who IL elected to the
legislature has not sufficient time to
frame a bill that will meet with the re-
quirements and demands Of the present
Increased litigation throughout the state
Therefore, we think 1t necessary to have
this bill ready and have 1t approved and
ratified by sufficient number of the va
rious attorneys and citizens throughout
the state as will induce the members Of
tha LEGISLATURE TO give IL that cnnsidara-