The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-14
STRONGLY OPPOSE SHORTER TERMS Lawyers Say Bill Is for Corporations Benefit BAR ASSN MEETING Temporary Resolutions Adopted Con- demning Senator Morrow's
 Measure-Further Steps
 to Be Taken Today

Members of the Birmingham Bar as-
 sociation met yesterday morning as had
 been scheduled at 9:3o o'clock in the
 circuit court room at the courthouse
 for the purpose of protesting against
 the curtailment of the present terms of
 the Jefferson county courts.
 The meeting, which was presided over
 by Attorney G. R. Harsh. unanimously
 adopted the following resolutions:
 Resolved That it is the sense of
 this meeting that we oppose the bills
 cutting down the time of the courts;
 that we Immediately communicate our
 protests to the legislators from this county; that committee of five be appointed to draft suitable resolutions
 asking for such change of the bills as will meet the requirements of the bar, and report their recommendations to called meeting of the convention tomorrow afternoon at o'clock" The committee for drafting the pro- posed resolutions is composed of Judge J. c. Carmichael, Capt. Frank s. White,
 James A. Mitchell, F. M. Lowe and L. J. Haley. Upon a call these members held Ia consultation immediately after the adjournment in the offices of Capt.
 Frank S. White for the purpose of dis
 cussing the nature of the protest The
 result will be given out at this after
 noon's meeting.
 The meeting yesterday morning was
 marked with lively debating both for
 and against the passage of bills which
 will shorten the terms of the city court
 about six weeks, and of the circuit
 court about eight weeks. The first argument was in favor of the shorten ing of the present terms and was made by Attorney L. c. Bradley of the firm of Tillman, Bradley & Morrow, who
 gave as his reason the need of more time previous to Jefferson county's call in the supreme court for the prepara- tion of briefs.
 In his speech against the passage of the bills, Attorney w. A. Denson stated that 1t was in effect a scheme of the
 corporations to reduce the time of holding courts which would result in the congestion of the dockets. Further
 more, he maintained that the bills were one sided because they had not been
 submitted to the bar association. He
 made strong intimation as to the mo-
 ated in the bill a provision for. the compromising of cases.
 Augustus Benners made a speech in
 which he indorsed the lengthening of the recesses. which he thought was neces- sary. Among those who opposed the cur ts,ilment of the terms for one reason or | another were J. A. Mitchell, Capt. Frank S. White, J. T. Glover. White Gibson, John Chamblee, H. L. Black, c. P. Bed 1 dow and others.
 1 A second meeting was called for to- night when delegation will probably be | appointed to go to Montgomery to pre- sent the resolutions objectfng to the pas sage of the bill The subject continued to be discussed among the lawyers yes- terday afternoon, and the general senti-
 ment seems to be in opposition to the changing in any mnner of present terms of the courts.
 Personally I think we have no need of legislation respecting the courts of Jefferson county at present." said Judge J. c. Carmichael last night. Already we have three months vacation Further | more, the three new judges were created | by the demands of an overcrowded court docket, and the system seems to be work | ing satisfactorily. I do not know what | is the object for curtailing the terms as 1 they stand at the present, but I should think the reason can be found in the wish
 on the part of good many attorneys to have more time in which to prepare their briefs immediately preceding the call for | the supreme court"
 Jere c. King said: "The new judgeships | were created because the old system of the courts was indequate for handling the
 work The new arrangement seems to be filling a long-felt demand, and think we should not revert to the old state of con eested dockets. The shortening of the terms would be almost the equiv9 lent Of dispensing with one of the judges" '"rhe courts are all up with their dock ets" said Sam M. Blake, clerk of the city court, "and the working of the present system is the most satisfactory in the his tory of the courts. It is the first time we have ever been up with the dockets, and while the present condition exists a case can be set for hearing within 60 days after the suit is filed. Heretofore IS months was doing we'll for time within which hearing could be given. It would be taking a step backward to cut down the terms of the courts'