Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-12-29

JUDGES NON-PARTISAN


~ aons Of the organization ever
hcld. the oklahoma state Bar ossocia-
tlou, I'm annual convention here yes
tcrday, went ON record as fayoring
the early enactment of laws for the
non partisan nomination and election
of judicial officers, tho enlargement
of the supreme court ana increased
compensation for IT'S members, tenn
porIrN continuance of the supreme
court commission, delegation Of au-
thuriy To the supreme court TO pre-
scribe all rules of practice and pro-
Cedure and "A stringent ttsbirment act
providing simpler ana more efficient
proceedings
". J. Gregg of Tulsa, former United
states district attorney offered
resolution recommending the most
radical changes In the methods Of or
gauizlng the state Judiciary and pro-
vidlng for the appointment Of appel
late Judges by the governor instead
Of by a vote OF the people. This
brought forth a debate that lasted two
hours and I'm which Judge J. B A.
Robertson, John II. Buriord and
other prominent attorneys took an
active part The resolution, however.
did not come to "A vote and was laid
over until Tuesday.
Enlarge Supreme Court.
II is proposed to enlarge the SUI
preme court to nine members, to sit
I'm three divisions and to abolish the
supreme court commission as soon as
this Ia done Both acts will require
"A constitutional amendment.
The supreme court came in for
both words Of praise and polite criti-
cism during the debate and many
suggestions were made, a number OF
the members going on record as op-
posed to the present system OF "one
man decisions. II was pointed out
that the court is now two years be-
| hind the docket. Judge w J. Williams
Of Tulsn declaIed that In his opinion
oral arguments before the supreme
court should be discontinued and that
cases involving sum less than $500
should be finally decided in the dis
| triCt courts, with no right Of appeal.
New Workers Address.
Last night the annual address was
delivered by Roberts Walker, the well
known corporation attorney of New
York city, whose subject was, Some
Inefficient Tendencies Of current Log
islation." Afterward, the members
were guests at a smoker and cabaret
in the grill Of Hotel Tulsa, given by
the Tulsa Bar association.
Much important business is to be
considered and several papers viii be
read at the concluding sessions Of the
convention Tuesday. Tuesday night
the annual banquet will be held in
the main dining hall Of Hotel Tulsa
ana the speakers include some Of the
states best known legal lights. r.. Il.
| Blake Of Shawnee will be toastmaster.
Attendance Not Large.
A cold rain yesterday prevented n
good attendance, although fully 200
members gathered in the Commercial
| club auditorium on West Second
! street for the opening sessions.
The report Of the treasurer showed
! that the association would have a ball
anCe in the treasury after this con-
| vcntiOn Of about 500, after all eX-
| penses Of the convention have been
/ paid. one hundred new members were
! fayOrably voted upon and the secre-
! tarys report showed the largest in
crease I'm membership during the past
/ year Of any like period since the as
sociatiOu was organized.
Too Many "tssays."
| 4 sensational talk was made by j,
| &C.. stone Of MuskOgee yesterday after
| noon during the debate on the SUI
/ prcme court recommendation He de-
I Clarcd that the court should not write
| long essays on each case decided,
! but should COufne its opinions TO a
| few tcrsc lines. He said that In some
| instances the same points Of law had
| been decided in 40 and so different
cases ana in each case the court wrote
/ one of these ESSAYS"
! We lawyers must first reform our
| selves" ne said Whenever the su-
/ preme court does not hand down a
/ lengthy and long drawn out opinion
/ the lawyer usually files a motion for
| r"hearing in which he all but ridicules
/ the court | am also in favor OF unani-
nous opinions and for all the mem
bers Of the court giving each case
/ their serious consideration As IL is
/ the deciding member writes his 'es-
say and passes IL on TO the other
/ justices. If he would cunfue him.
self 10 q brief opinion there would
/ be no glariug conflicts In the decis-
/ ions of the court such as we are now
| confronted with IL Is in writing
these essays that the various Justices
| conflict and not in deciding the actual
points of law involved,
Need the Commission.
Judge j. Il. A. Robertson, "a former
member Of the supreme court COM
mission declared that In his opinion
the commission should be enlarged as
well as the court, until the present
congestcd condition OF the docket is
relieved and then the commission
should be abolished entirely.
In answering w. |. Williams argu-
ment against oral arguments before
the supreme court as one method Of
SECURING moro work from the court.
J. J. Shea of Bartlesyille declared that
he believed oral arguments were
necessary In order that the lawyer
might scquaint himself with the de-
slrC5 and suggestions of the court,
which could not he done solely by
presenting printed arguments.
The five important legislative acts
recommended by the association will