New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-10
LAWYERS OPPOSE THE
RECALL Of JUDGES
New York County Associations
Annual Meeting Winds Up
with Heated Debate.
VOTE STANDS III TO 80
Joseph H. Choate Elected Presl.
dent-Report Favors Wedding
Out of Lawyers Not En-
titled to Practise.


\ heated debate on the recall OF
iudg,s enliyencd the annual meeting OF
the New York County Lawyers Associ-
alton held last night in the Hotel Astor.
The vote showed III to 80 against the
recall
Just before the close of the meeting
the board Of directors asked that an
expression Of opinion be made by tho
association relative to legislation pro-
yiding for the recall.
Edward NJ. Grout jumped to his feet
and said:
such q subject should not be dis
cussed bv an association ~ lawyers
W. Bourke Cochran aud J. Hampton
Dougherty asserted the subject was one
that should be discussed; that no organ
ization Was better fitted TO discuss II
than one composed OF lawyers, and that
an expression Of opinion should be given.
Then followed u heated debate, i'll
which most OF the members took part.
Il am not I'm favor OF the recall of
Judges bat realize that the courts
have not the dignity and respect they
used to have" said Mr.. Cochran. II
think We should calmly consider the
whole question, and, while | am not Ill
favor Of the recall, 1t is u question that
cannot be lightly passed over Or side
stepped
l. l.. ~ -
vas Interrupted by applause. and Judge
Parker had 10 rap for order h. stop the
applause. Mr. Grout, j Hampden
Doughcrty and Charles Boston were on
their feet demanding recognition.
Mr. Grout was recognized, and in an
extended speech ne declared that law
,crs should not find it necessary 10 dis
cuss "a question 80 vtally affecting facts
which should be knewn TO them. lie de
nanded that the recall be condemned,
and then gave the door To- Mr.. Dough
erty.
Mr.. Dougherty declared that he did not
see the necessity for the discussion of a
question IN which all lawyers had formed
an opinion. He then said:
! have heard tho criticisms Which have
be.u directed At our judiciary. J would not
say that they are true but With oil r'-
-poct 10 ih' Judges y may -" th1i ;hfl
hay. strained their duty in some decisions.
~ was held bv the original Trainers 81 ih"
Constitution, that q l'V should 40, u' &c r.
rllred unconstitutional unless II WaS HdIr
pably in conflict with ito lund:lncutdl law.
Il hardly seems that when court ~ line
stands fN. and four on On" question oi
coustitutonsllty o. a lsN the Law m Gu'
ton can 10 palpably unconstitutional
PU' ~" We know mat nc t''li o. lN tu.
Judges th6ins,lv"s' How 10 We know '..
what it g. In the system by witch ''@N
are chosen, and that tho remedy Ii@s ln'i"
instead ~ the way IN which they sual 10
removed ! would direct the attention ~
every ono 20 IN. speech delivered iu the
Housc 81 Repre- sentative by Congres sman
kip"aid. OF Ohio, / believe, IN when M
danger ol laying the Judge n"stion open
tg the yot" 81 the public, "ortn'"-s vote
~ set forth m most gtlt terms.
Ut us then discover tho remedy Put
ourselves on record as being opposed to the
recall aud then appoint committee 20 IN
v"stigste the conditions hich have caused
the criticism OF our courts II w. fnl that
here r. a Just cause FOR the criticisms 'ct
rs by means Of our technical minds Tor
mulate plans for the removal OF tho n, ana
II Wc md that the criticisms are bos'l's7.
lc' us declare 50 and prove a.
Mr. Boston then gained tn" floor and
proposed the resolutions passed by the
state Bar Association. in the irst part
Of which the recall is condemned and in
the secon1 part Of which committee Of
fftcen Is proposed 10 cooperate with
other committees 20 inyestisat" the
widespread feeling 81 discomfort with
our judicial system"
cries Of Question" started as he was
Oh his feet but Mr. Parker succeeded
IN restoring order and when Mr. Sos
ton finished reading the resolutions and
motions Mr.. Grout Withdrew his orig
inal motion, NJ. Dougher'y his amend
mcnt, and tho motion was put hefrre
the meeting.
The lawyers received the formal state
ment cf the motion In silence, but when
the question was opened for discussion
five or six lawyers rose TO their feet and
the discussion went on for some time.
Finally vote was taken, and 4 was
announced that the resolution condemn
ing tho recall had been carried hy ~
To- 50.
dent 81 the association for the coming
year other officers elected were
Charles +. Brown Thomas u. Hubbard
and PenJamin Cardoza, vice presidents:
Charles Strauss. secretary. Edward NJ.
Grout, treasurer. and w. Bourl>e Cock
ran. William Il. HornbloWcr. job e.
Hedges, Alton Il. Parker. John " Dillon
Abram T. Elkus. Abraham Goldsmith
and William y. Guthrie directors.
The report of the associations mem-
bcrship committee urged the annual
registration OF all lawyers practising In
Now York state. asserting this to be- the
only method by which It was possible to
put a stop 10 the practice of law 10y per-
sons not admitted 10 the state bar.
The report further stated that through
the effort of the association 800 names
Of persons who had been practising law
illegally in the state had been stricken
from the lists.
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