The Washington herald., 1911-06-18
REVISING RULES
OF EQUITY COURTS
A Circular Which Outlines
Scope of the Work. :

The committee OF the Supreme Court
of the United States to revise the rules
Of practice for the courts of equity Of
the United States, consisting of Chief
Justice White and Justices Lurton and
Van Devanter, have selected as the sec
retary of the committee Mr.. William
]. Hughes, of this city. Mr.. Hughes is
a member of the bar of the Supreme
Court, and for years has been recog-
nized as an authority on practice and
procedure in that court. 1t is under
stood that his selection was a surprise
to Mr.. Hughes, and that 1t was made
because of his especial fitness for the
duties required. The revision of the
equity rules has been urged by Presi-
dent Taft, and is regarded as a matter
of great Importance to lawyers and liti-
gants alike. The honor conferred upon
Mr.. Hughes by his selection is .gener-
ally commended by the members of the
bar here as especially fitting.
Mr.. Hughes yesterday issued the fol-
lowing statement, which Is being sent
| to all Of the judges of the United States
and others interested in the proposed
revision Of the equity rules:
THE Supreme Court OF the United
States desires to consider the subject of
revising the equity rules, and in con-
nectton with that subject the reforma-
tion OF pleading and practice IN equity
cases in the courts of the United States,
to the extent that that matter is sub
ject to the courts authority under Sec
tions 9l3 and 917 of the Revised Statutes
Of the United States. The court, there
fore. prior to its adjournment for the
term, appointed a committee from
among its membership with directions
to consider and report such changes as
the committee may conclude would, II
adopted, tend to the simplifcation of
pleading and practice and the correction
OF any unnecessary delay or unreason-
able cost resulting from practices under
| the rules as they now exist.
THE committee thus appointed is ad-
vised that the subject-matter which It is
appointed to consider has been for some
time under investigation by a committee
of the American Bar Association, and, Of
course 1t will gladly receive and con-
slider any definite suggestion which that
committee may deem 1t proper to make
as the result of its work.
Desiring, however, before 1t makes its
report to the court, to have the benefit
Of every possible suggestion from all
sources, the committee appointed by the
court earnestly requests the cooperation
Of the several circuit courts Of appeal
Of the United States. To this end 1t
ventures to suggest that each OF those
courts appoint a committee OF at least
three from their respective bars to pre-
pare and suggest such changes in plead
ing and practice in equity in the courts
Of the United States as such committee
may deem IL would be wise to adopt.
and when the changes are put into def
mite shape, to file the same with the
secretary of this committee at the ear
| lest possible moment, certainly on or
before the first day OF November next.
while not desiring to exclude any
definite suggestion from any judge or
| from any member OF the bar, the COM
mittee hopes, in order to avoid conn
plexity, that any suggestion which 1t Is
| thought best to make may be forwarded
through the instrumentality of the COM
! mittee Of the bar to be appointed by
the respective circuit courts of appeal
as above requested"