The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-24

Influenced by the present conditions
in this court, which are hlgnly uhsa|-
isfactory and for which under exist
ing circumstances there is no chance
for immediate relief such as Is sore
Iy needed movement will be launched
I'm this city today looking to the es-
kabIishment by the state Legislature OF
an additional judicial district IN North
Carolina, this district to be composed
OF New Hanover and one or two other
counties, and the judge, like the other
state superior court judges, to rotate
from one district to the other during
his term of Office.
The need of more frequent courts in
this county is said to be very great,
the civil calendar being crowded with
scores of cases, many of which have
been standing for several years, and
the criminal docket at the present time
Is extremely large, with dozens of i'm
portant cases waiting trial and with
more than so prisoners in the county
fail on different charges. Even the
present need of relief when it Is
cause of the necessary detention to the
presiding Judge, it has been found i'm
possible to secure another judge until
early in March and then Only for one
week In the meantime many other
cases viii be bound over
The question of greater court fac
ilities has long been considered and
It is thought that now is an oppor-
tune time to press the matter and
urge that the special session Of the
legislature take some action.
To consider the matter in detai1' and
TO discuss the terms of a bill, which
1T is understood is being drawn by a.
prominent local lawyer, meeting of
the members of the bar will be. held
In the Office of the clerk of court at
the court house this morning at 10
O'Clock and ON account of the general
Interest felt in the matter it Is be-
Iieved that there will be large at
tendance.
1t is understood that officials Of the
chamber Of commerce and other bus
inesS men and the board of county
commissioners all approve of the idea
II another district is formed it will
mako II judicial districts in" North
Carolina and the ADDITION of even one
Judge would be of great benefit, for
frequently other big counties find
themselves badly in need of relief
such as New Hanover is experiencing
;-Rt the present time.
Even the remote possibility OF new
judge and solicitor has started the
politicians figuring as to who will win
out but as this is matter OF future
interest it is not worth while to con-
sider the question of probable ap-
pointments.
In connection with better court fac
ilities the following paragraph bearing
on the subject, taken from Governor
Glenn's message to the legislature will
be read with interest:
<'There is a defect in the present
judicial sustem of the state If a
Judge is sick Or detained from his
courts by unavoidable accident, there
IS no provision to remedy this omis-
sion, unless some other judge can find
time from his own courts to ride the
circuit of the sick or absent Judge.
This could easily be remedied by estab-
NEW COURT 2
:Alsh2ng two small additional districts,
consisting of county each, so that the
Judges riding these. small districts
could, when not engaged with their
courts, hold special terms and take
f'Ehe place OF the sick judges The
ninth judicial district lost it's entire
circuit this fall by the serious illness
OF the judge, thereby causing a loss
OF thousands of dollars and leaving
persons in Jail who were entitled to a
speedy trial. Such instances have
happened before and will happen
again, and. therefore, should be rem
edied' /.