Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-02
PROPOSED new COURT RULES
COMMITTEE OF BAR ASSOC1A-
TON SUBMITS ITS REPORT.
First Revision in About Ten Years.
To Be Considered at Special
Meeting.

| At the recent annual meeting of the
Bar Association of the District of Column
| bia W. Mosby Williams, chairman: Will
liam Henry White and William w. Mil
Ian. the committee on new rules, sub
mitted final report accompanied with
| manuscript draft of new and revised rules
4 of the Supreme Court of the District OF
| Columbia. The board of directors was
| authorized to have the proposed rules
printed that copies may be furnished
members of the association. 1t Is under
stood that after reasonable time spe-
| cal meeting will be held to consider the
rules as submitted with view of MAX
| ing recommendation thereon to the court
and ultimately having the same adopted
| as a new edition of rules. This Will be
/ the first general revision of rules in about
1 ten years and since the adoption of the
code. which alone has caused many
| changes.
The following old rules are entirely
| omitted:
Law Z. s. o 10. II. section 3 to 6, II,
| section ). II, 36. 3S. ~, &C.. A. 4S. 81 g..
ID, 90 IL. -. "a. IS. 81, Sc. So 81, 49, ~.
%. %, 30. 100. 101. 102 and 103
| Equity 3. = II, IS, 81, 81, 81, 6S, ST. 81, |
| 50, 10l, 102 and 1GI
| The law rules are reduced in number
| from III TO So and the equity rules from
! 100 to
Radical Changes Suggested.
The radical changes suggested by the
committee in the rules and the new fea
lures include taxation as costs of the
premium on corporate surety paid by
| trustees and other court officers, and a
| schedule of maximum premiums fixed, |
| copies of all pleadIigs to be furnished by
counsel. which will greatly reduce the
costs of litigation, and a standing COM
! mitt9e on rules.
The committee suggested that a rule
| be adopted that neither the jury nor any
| member shall, while serving or upon being
| discharged. make any present to the
/ court in which the jury has been in at
| tendance or to any Of the officers or at
tachas.
| A change of interest to real estate own
ers and dealers is contained in the pro-
! posed rule to make applicable to land
| lord and tenant proceedings the pr.nci-
| pies of the old Is rue. which permits
| a summary judgment. on the failure TO
| present a sufficient affidavit of defense.
i Chairman Williams of the rules COM
| mttee says the object of this innova-
| ton is to prevent tenants who have been
| served with notice tying up sales and
| blu lding operations after judgment for
| possession has been rendered against
them by appealing. Under the old meth
| DDS hearing of such appeals frequently
! We're delayed nine months.
/ Additional powers are given to the clerk
| of the District Supreme Court to approve
| bonds on undertakings, enter DEGREES pro
| confesso. ratify sales nisi and with con-
| sent of both sides to issue comm! ssions
| to take testimony. his will relieve the
court of many routine matters and Will
| save much time to counsel.
/ The old return and appearance day in
| equity. the first Tuesday of each month,
| has been abolished and the new rules
| provide that a defendant must enter his
nr hv
! file his answer within twenty days there
after. The effect of this is to shorten
/ litigation in equity at least thirty days.
| A time limit of ninety days for the taking
| of testimony Is set, VIII oh will also tend
to accelerate final disposition in equity
cases. Exceptions to the report of the
auditor must hereafter be flied within
fifteen days instead of thirty days
Other Innovations.
Among other changes proposed are the
following:
Committee on admissions increased to
nine members. three to be appointed an
nually. Members who have served two
| years ineligible for reappointment until
after one year
Law Rules.--Applicants for admission to
/ bar as students to pay admission fee to
/ clerk of the court. who shall pay expenses
1 Of committee on admissions, well for
! the services OF the committee out of lad
mission to bar fees"
| Rule provides caption to forms and
i pleadings. captions to forms set out In
! different rules being, therefore, omitted.
! Prohibiting the soliciting by representa-
| tives Of surety companies in the court
room during the sitting of the court.
| Where verdict has been set aside or jury
| failed to agree and the case stands again
| for trial before the same justice he, of his
| own motion, may, or at the request Of
either party shall, transfer 1t for retrial
Il har
| Every bill of exceptions shall be pre-
pared by counsel for the party rendering
1 it. If not settled before the jury retires
counsel rendering it shall give two days
| notice In writing to opposing counsel of
the time at which it is proposed to submit
| the same to the court to be settled, and
| shall also at least eight days before the
time designated in such notice present to
| opposing counsel copy Of the bill of ex-
| ceptions SO proposed to be settled. Said
exceptions shall be submitted TO the court
| within thirty-eight days after Judgment
shall have been entered in the cause I'M
| | IS the court shall. upon motion In writ
ng and for cause shown extend the tim
| for the submission thereof II counsel
cannot agree the bill of exceptions shall
| be settled by the justice who presided at
| the trial, in which case he shall be at
| tended by counsel on both sides, as he
| may direct
| The payment by or on behalf of either
party in any action or proceeding of any
| fee to the jury Is prohibited,
Advertising by direction Of the court per
| agate line two and one-sixth inches in
| width shall not exceed. one time. 10 cents;
! two times 121s cents for each time: three
or more and less than ten times, 10 cents
| each, and ten or more times 8 cents each |
As to Equity Court.
| Service on the husband for the wife
when both are parties is omitted from
| the old rule.
| The writ of subpoena when served shall |
be returned on the tenth day after serv-
| ice. but. If defendant not found, on the
| tenth day after issuance
| Alias subpoenas when not served shall
| be returnable on the next rule day oc- |
| curing twenty days after issuance
| The caption of bills shall contain not |
| only the names of the parties, but also |
suitable indications of the capacity in |
| which they sue sued. The intro
| ductory part of the bill shall contain the |