New-York tribune., 1909-05-23
HOARY CASES THAT
SLEEP In COURTS
T4LENDARS MONTHS AND
YEARS BEHIND.
Technicalifies Tie Up Thousands
of Suits, or Continued AdjOurn-
ments Keep Them Slumbering.

That life is short but law intermnabIy long is
a fact brought home intervals to the public con
sclousnesS. An official recognition of this fact -
the announcement made last week that the ninety
seven Supreme Court justices of this state will
meet soon convention at Albany TO discuss IN
movements in the administration OF justice. in
Guiding Fastening OF judicial processes and the
reduction Of expenses to tigants The call for this
unusual altering is signed by sixteen Judges or the
Supreme Court Whatever reforms may be accom-
pIlshed It is undeniabe that under present condi-
tions a prominent murder enjoys as long
"a the judicial boards as a popular
play behind the secular fOOtghts while civil liti-
CATION meauders through the courts from decade 20
decade with the purng continuity of Tennyson
brook The laws delay complained of by the
Prince of Denmark three centuries ago, and Presi-
dent Taft declared last summer that the condition
persists and needs remedy. one jurtst admits that
there is as much red tape in modern criminal pro
cedure as there I'm the dog Latin days of good
Queen Bess: another states that most wealthy Of
tenders escape punishment by putting up a
long fight. Earthquakes may change the face OF
nature revolutions transform society but juris-
prudence creeps with tortoise gait and, though
compelled to yield a triae in content. retains its
cumbersome shell.
Justice should be represented. many declare. not
only as blind asleep. Her mnions certainly look
dozy rs they sprawl in their seats in many court
room There Is more yawning in the courts as a
whole, than in the churches. If any New Yorker
is troubled with insomnia he may find a cure by
attending the sessions of the higher tribunals. The
droning voice of witness. clerk attorney min
Cling with the subdued of city traffic viii luII
him into a sweeter sumber than the Lotophasi
enjoyed, and tn, only discomfort is the waking
consequent upon toe speedy adjournment of court
About four hours sleep a day is all that one may
CLEAN in the halls Justice this Is the average
duration OF the public workday Of the lady with
the scales.
Preliminary tardness is. shown in the oehlhd-
hand calendars Of the state and federal civil and
criminal courts. This preliminary sowness ranges
from a few months 20 thirty-ive years ana aver
ages a year and half. The Court OF Speelal
Sessions this city has been 5000 cases oelho rOr
long period and many defendants nave oeeh
automatically acquitted by the outlaWhg OF thelr
cases on the calendar. While the standing calendar
of General Sessions has been reduced IN the last
wear from 24 to bout 5S2. bail still require
abo1rt a wear to come to trial Prison cases are
bee7,n and ended in about ten days. The special
term OF the Supreme Court had lately 3,SSS cases
on its calendar while there $500 cases in the
turv division Of the same court. meaning behind
state of between eight and fifteen months The
criminal departments the federal courts in this
district are said up date, but the district
and circuit courts are from six months to two
wears TO the bad. So far the government Is con-
cerned its cases preferred and go to the head
of the calendar beyond all hoary private actions
Increase of population. growth OF litigation is
tbe stock answer to the inquiry why calendars are
crowded More judges and courts are asked for.
Some lawyers charged with contributing to delay
and not gifted with the waggish humor Of one who
said IL was perfectly well known that his was an
obstructive profession. intimsts that the capacity