The Washington times., 1912-03-13
EASY DIVORCE HERE
IF BAR ASSOCIATION
MOVE IS SUCCESS
Radical Change in Court
Procedure to Be Urged
Upon Congress.

Aiming to expedite litigation in the
District and lessen the ccst Of court
actions the Washington Bar Asso-
citation has Inaugurated movement
FOR sweeping reforms in the judicial
procedure.
Additional members of the District
supreme Court bench. the taking Of tes-
umonV in open court, rather than by
an examiner, 10 reduce the expense In
enhlty and 1ivorce cases, and the short
ening, of records in the latter actions,
aiG ar changes or reforms urged in a rcso.
luton adopted by the association at a
meeting hel in CITY Hall las. evening.
Coip"ratlon Counsel =. n. Thomas,
president of the association, was au-
thorized in the resolution to appoint a
committee Of five members Of the bar
to draft bill for presentation to Con-
gross. He said tOday he would announce
row.
Radical changes in the divorce laws
OF the District are contemplated in
another resolution adopted by the as
socation at yesterdays meeting, the
measure authorizing President Thomas
TO name committee of three TO invcs-
report back to TIE association at the
next meeting. It was proposed. that the
grounds for divorce be extended to
conform with the law before the adop-
ton Of the code now in effect.
May Change Law.
Under the old law absolute divorces
were granted on grounds Of either inf
deity, habitual drunkenness, cruelty,
and desertiOn for more than two years.
Infdelity rs the sole ground under the
code.
| Discussion over this proposed change
| in the divorce law by the ttor-
| neys was to the effect that an eX-
| tension of the scope of the code
would no doubt cause storm of
| protest from different quarters. Con-
| sequently careful consideration was ad-
| Vocated and definite action was post
poned until the committee. which will
! be named within few days reports.
| Another resolution, held in allegiance
| for further consideration, urged Con-
| gressional action to abolish appeals
| from the Municipal Court to the Dis
trict Supreme Court, give appeals from
to the Court of Appeals, to extend the
jurisdiction of Municipal Court to all
| common law civil cases, except causes
| involving title to real estate, leaving
the concurrent and exclusive jurtsdic-
tion the same as at present as 10
| amounts involved. and 10 prove jury
trials i'm Municipal Court.
| Favorable action on this measure Is
| anticipated, as cases from the MuniCl-
pal Court help Congest the calendar in
the District Supreme Court, and one
justice devotes a large share of his time
to hearing the causes originating in the
There are now six members of the
District Supreme Court. and they pre-
side over two equity courts. TWO CIR
cult courts, two criminal courts, pro-
bate court, district court, and an ad-
miralty court, and in addition do divers
duties, including the review of appealed
cases. 1t is argued by advocates or n
larger court that two more justices
would greatly facilitate court matters
To Simplify Suits.
With respect to the hearing of testi-
mony in cqrtH and divorce cases in
open court, it was urged at the meet
ing of the bar association that mas
much as the examiners have no au-
thority to rule On the a'inrisslbihtv Of
Objectionable evidence that much irrele-
want, incompetent, and iTmaterial mat
ter finds itself into the record, to the
needless expense of the litigants. TIL
cost OF transCriDinS practically worth
less lot of testimony is often finan-
CiaI burden to the parties in the suit,
II was declared.
Some criticism was made of the time
devoted py the six justices of the lis
triCt Supreme Court to hearing cases,
1t heny assorted that the court did not
give enough time to court matters.
One attorney said that virtually only
two days a week were devoted to tn"
court, allowing eight hours a day. He
pointed out that court convened at Il
a. m and adjourned at ) o'clock, gen
orally before that hour, ana that only
} four days in the week were occupied
, in the trial of cases, the court hearin
motions on Friday and not conveninG
, or Saturday.
Answering this statement, another at
torrey held that lawyers. by needless
, hGrongTe and 'unpreraredness," con-
sumed too much time, and IN conse-
, qUenc oOstr'i3ted the transaction of
legal business. 1t was further pointed
! out that the justices required time tc
consider cases and that they are usu
: ally active in theic duties when not Dr
J the bench.
I Altogether. il Is believed that the ba
: association has started something II
E the advocacy of a larger court, anC
: the sugEcs ton that divorces can he Oh,
/ tained more easily in the District o.
: columbia