The Calumet news., 1912-06-07
TO PUT AN END TO DELAYS.

Judge Clarence w. Sessions OF the
United States district court for the
sixth circuit and western district OF
Michigan. has made a rule which will
be warmly applauded. lie win put an
end TO delays so far as procedure in
his court is concerned. Attorneys will
not be allowed 10 continue cases over
term by agreement without the con-
sent of the court II is common prac-
tice I'm all the courts Of the United
States for attorneys to continue cases
over term simply by agreement, pa
pers being filed with the clerk of the
court TO that effect and without eX-
planation of the cause. As result
most litigation has progressed at the
leisure Of the attorneys. Judge Ses-
sions announces that no con-
tinuance will be granted unless the
attorneys concerned appear before
him ana show cause why the case
should not Immediately be tried. Il
is not probable that he will grant moro
than one continuance in any case.
II all the judges in the United
eoAtAAtH NbNAu Atht Allf 0Alilf iAAtdNhA
against delays in litigation as those
that will hereafter obtain i'm Judge
Sessions court. the eXasperating de
lays that have characterized legal
procedure i'm this country. and have
been the subject of much discussion
by eminent legal authorities in an
effort to expedite and not impede the
course Of justice, the United States
courts would no longer be compared
unfavorably with those of Europe.
Judge Sessions is one of the pioneers
in the movement to expedite cases
similar action.
The delay of the courts has been the
butt OF hundreds of jokes and the
subject Of severe condemnation on the !
part of laymen and even attorneys. |
Cases have dragged on In American |
courts for years on account of intern.
Unable red tape and the failure of tho
courts TO hasten matters. Judge Ses-
sions holds that the trouble does not |
lie with the methods OF the, courts |
but in the judges themselves. "As 4
long as ] have health and strength |
there shall be no unnecessary delay /
In any court that l may preside over"
he said.
Judge Sessions is not disposed to letlI
matters drag in the least. and he 4
demonstrated this in the recent litiga-
ton brought by Godfrey NJ. Hyams Il
- F.lt A
Hecla Mining company That his
method OF conducting the hearing saw
ID the parties concerned $4,000. was
admitted by the attorneys i'm the case
rhe Calumet & Hecla has been in
7olved in similar litigation of one
lind or another since 1907. the settling
# the cases requiring about three
ears. The present litigation came up
'efore Judge Sessions at the opening
# the court i'm April. He would not
rant a temporary injunction. but or
cred the attorneys 10 prepare at once
o try the case on its merits. DEPOSIT
ions were taken in Boston and Judge
SESSIONS went TO Calumet and took
estimony In the case for a week. 4
ay Of argument i'm court at Mar
uette concluded the litigation, and
hen, without taking the case under
dvisement or waiting a few days to
onsider the merits of the case Judge
essions handed down his opinion al
lost before the attorneys had a chance
, draw a second breath The Iitiga-
on is now ended as far as the district
,urt is concerned. although the at
'rneys for Mr.. Hyams are threaten
w To appeal the case. The hearing
)nsumed thirty days where it might
ave taken three years.