The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-01-25
FEDERAL COURT HERE IN APRIL
Attorney M. F. Harrington Of o'NeiII
Asks for Jury Cases Here,

Attorney M. F. Harrington Of oNeilI
Asks for Jury Cases Here.
The first jury cases to be tried in
federal court at Norfolk are docketcd
for term which will be held here
next April by Judge Munger. Two
jury cases in which Attorney NJ. f.
Harrington of O'Ncill is interested,
have been scheduled for this city and
to Mr.. Harrington will belong the cred
it for bringing the first genuine jury
session to Norfolk's new government
building. Mr.. Harrington, who was in
Norfolk during the day, said that for,
mer United States Senator Allen of
Madison may also have a jury case
here at that time. Judge Munger is
anxious to hold court in Norfolk, as
he has informed attorneys of this part
of the state, and Norfolk could have
federal court sessions twice each year.
according to Mr.. Harrington if north
ern Nebraska lawyers would but ask
that their federal court cases be tried
in Norfolk.
"If Norfolk is anxious to have fed
eral court sessions here" said Mr..
Harrington, there ought to be some
body here who would look over the
docket prior to each term of federal
court and, selecting those cases orig
mating in northern Nebraska, write
to the attorneys and try to induce them
to docket their cases for Norfolk in
stead Of Omaha. Judge Munger has
told me that he would be only too glad
to hold terms of court in Norfolk, be-
cause he would like to get out of the
city and come up here into the fresh
air He is required by law to come to
Norfolk and convene court semi-an-
nually, which he has done for years.
But he can not hold court here unless
there are cases slated for Norfolk.
This matter is up to the attorneys.
Judge Munger has been blamed by
some because court was not held here.
He is entirely blameless 1t is the
fault of Norfolk and the attorneys who
have federal court cases arising in this
section.
"And northern Nebraska attorneys
could save much in expense money for
their clients by coming to Norfolk in
stead of Omaha. 1t is merely a mat
ter of trip to Norfolk or a trip to
Omaha with the attorneys because
their expenses are paid by the clients
anyway. But by saving the distance
to Omaha the attorneys could keep
many dollars in the pockets of their
clients by asking that cases be tried
in Norfolk instead of at Omaha. To
get at the root of the matter, under the
present law, Norfolk must induce at
torneys who have federal court cases
to select this city.
Mr.. Harrington Prefers Norfolk.
For myself, | prefer Norfolk to
Oma in many cases. Particularly is
| Norfolk advantageous over Omaha in
cases against corporations. In Omaha
jury is more easily prejudiced in
favor Of a corporation than in Norfolk,
| because Omaha is the headquarters for
many large corporations, while Norfolk
is out in the open.
But the law which created Norfolk
as a federal court point was faulty in
that it did not require cases original
! ing in northern Nebraska to be tried
in Norfolk. This amendment to the
present law is needed
1T would be a great injustice upon
northern Nebraska to pass the amend
! ed law which is reported to be on foot
in Washington, cutting Norfolk off the
federal court list The government
has already spent more than 100000
here to provide for holding federal
court and to now scratch Norfolk of
the list and lose the use of this invest
ment would be an outrage upon the
common people who pay the taxes, as
well as upon the public from which
spring the cases and who would have
to pay the additional expense of trav
cling to Omaha.
Let Norfolk take steps to induce
the attorneys of northern Nebraska tC
try their cases here while you have &
law making this a court town"
Mr.. Harrington says that in Iowa the
law requires cases originating in {
certain district to be tried at the cOur
town in that district. An additlona
court town has recently been made IL
Iowa.