The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMAONEV EVE OF
 RECONSTRUCTION New Rules and Methods of Procedure to Replace
 Old Forms ILENGTHENING TERM AMONG THE REFORMS Dowdell May Convene Special Term to Consider Changes-Importance of
 Changes Proposed-New Leg islation Needed
ax LEMIs s. BETTY.


 Montgomery, october --tSpecial.)- Tor the first time since its organization in May, 1920, the supreme court of Ala bama Is on the eve of being recon structed. Old rules of practice which have been in operation for nearly a hundred years are soon to be relegated to the remote past to which they be- long, and new rules and methods of pro- cedure are to take their place. Recon struction of the court is probably the best way to define the change.
 There are various reasons for the statement that the supreme court is soon to be reconstructed. In the first place. there is an insistent demand on the part of practically every lawyer in the state that new rules of practice be adopted, and, In the second place, a majority of tho justices of the SUI preme court have put themselves on record as favoring certain changes Tn the present system. Regarding the scope of these changes which the su- preme court may effect. there is some difference of opinion among certain members of the court, but, In the main, there Is a general agreement that the court has authority. under provisions of the code to establish new rules of prac- | tice
 In setting out the Jurisdiction of the supreme court, the code makes pro- vision for that tribunal ito establish rules of practice in such court. and all other courts of record in the state, not contracy to the provisions of the code" With this authority. given the court, at least four of the Justices contend that the supreme court has the power of adopting changes that will go far towards facilitating criminal and civil procedure in the state, as well as es- Itablishing new rules of practice which will prevent large number of techni- cal reversals. point on which the court has been rather severely eriti- cized during the past few years.
 Special Term of Supreme Court
 It has been learned that Chief Justice Dowdell has been asked to convene special term of the supreme court for the purpose of considering certain changes in the rules of practice of that court. Whether or not this special term or court Will De COnNtUtd DtlOit iiit beginning of the November term, on the 11th of next month, or whether Judge Dowdell will assemble the court for an informal discussion of that sup iect after the next regular term begins has not been ascertained though 1t is practically certain That the court will meet sometime within the near future, probably before the beginning of the November term, to consider the adop ( .f f14t inn, pt rh n rules of practice. It is also more than probable that at this conference, tho court of appeals will be invited to par ticipate in the general discussion rela- tive to making new rules, inasmuch as that court will be largely affected by whatever changes the higher court adopts
 The memb CTS of the court of appeals are all in favor of getting as far as possible from old methods of practice and procedure, and to that court Is probably due much credit for the move ment looking to judicial reform in the state The fact that the court of ap- peals has reversed very few criminal cases since it's organization has brought it to the front as favoring the adoption of rules looking to the elimination of so many criminal appeals.
 Importance of Changes Proposed
 By the adoption of new rules of practice, l believe the supreme court of Alabama can eliminate at least % per cent of criminal appeals" This is the statement of one of the most eminent lawyers in the state, man who has studied the situation carefully. and who is an enthusiastic advocate of judicial reform. According to this lawyer, the state pays out nearly one-half as much money in the enforcement of criminal laws as 1t does for the support of edu- cation.
 Probably the most important good that will result to the state at large from the adoption of new rules of prac- tice by the supreme court is the saving of money. It Is known that nearly every murder case costs the state in the neighborhood of 5000, and that ire