Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-31
UNIQUE COURT IS
CLEVELAND SUCCESS
Raymond C. Moley Tells of
Workings for Social
Advancement.
LiTlGANTS ARE HELPED
IN MANY PETTY CASES
Cancellation Tribunal Modelled on
Famous Systems in Vogue in
Norway and Sweden.

How thousands of lawsuits have oeen
adjusted for poor people at usual cost
of but % cents each, how the laws de-
lay has been arerted by a court or con-
citation and the tone of the legal pro-
fession strengthened is told in an article
by Raymond c. Moley, written exclusive
" for the Survey This article on the
conciIiation court is given publicity py
the survey associates, who are organized
to find out and interpret the facts or
working and living conditions and to pro-
mote Intelligent efforts for social ad-
vanrement.
Mr.. Moley gives credit for the institu-
ton of this court to Judge Manuel
Levine of Cleveland. who came to this
country as a Jewish immigrant boy, and
workin. out the system on the famous
systems of Norway and Denmark. has
built up Il home of Justice through
common sense.
The article, In part. follows:
History of Court.
The need for what has been aptly
termed "a socialized Jurisprudence has
led to the formation in recent years or
several courts of more or less unique
functions. The Juvenile court and the
domestic relations court are instances or
this tendency. No less unique is the
Cancellation court which has been es-
tabliShed as a branch of the municipal
court of Cleveland.
The Cancellation court has been IN
operation since March, 1913, and has
met with general favor and marked
success. 1t has already disposed OF
5,SS4 cases out of 6.1S4 filed, and the
fee has usually been 25 cents, never
does not of course cover the actual
cost of the proceedings. The theory
was held in framing the bill of costs
that municipal court ministering to
its expenses by the collection of fee
and fines
Helps Litigants Without Lawyers.
All this has been accomplished
through procedure instituted by
Judge Manuel Levine. Fifteen years
ago he came to this country from Rus
sia-a Jewish immigrant boy of seven
teen-and got his start in the English
classes at Hiram House. one of Cleve-
lands social settlements.
When the Cleveland municipal court
act was framed provision was made for
the litigant who was unable to secure
the services of a lawyer. clerk was
to be designated to assist parties in
preparing and filing papers incident to
their suit, and to advise and assist.
the settlement of cases involving small
amounts of money The chief justice
selected for this post man with legal
training, long experience in court busi-
ness and temperament suited to the
eXacting requirements of the work.
1t did not take long for the knowl-
edge of this means of assistance to be-
come known throughout the city and
hundreds brought in their real or fan
cied grievances. Many were given.
sound advice. which resulted in the adj
justment of the difference without fur
Their Intervention. OFTEN the clerk
acted as mediator and succeeded in
bringing about a settlement. When
mediation failed he assisted in bring
ipg a suit in the regular way. During
the year 1912 200 cases were thus set
tied out of court. No record was made
of the cases in which advice and as
sistance were given. but no doubt the
number was many times 1000. All OF
the services of this department are
free.
Court for Small Civil Suits.
The work thus favorably begun led
to the formation of the Cancellation
branch of the court. The object In view
was not only to relieve the court OF
much inconsequential legislation, but
to provide simple and inexpensive
means for the settlement of small civil
TO make the chief business of the Jus
tice shop" and the shyster lawyer. The
wide powers of the municipal court
enabled the judges to establish this
branch without any Legislative enact
ment, but by rule of the court: the
same procedure as when the Chicago
court of domestic relations was Gre
ated.
tachment and garnishment involving less
than $50 and all cases of replevin are
entered upon the Cancellation docket The
defendant is then notified by registered
mail of the claim and of the day set
for the hearing Of the case. 1t may
be Of interest to note here that all writs
of the Cleveland municipal court are
Served by registered mail instead of the
old and expensive method of personal
service by conStableS.
Simple Methods Adopted.
One of the regular judges of the court
is assigned by the chief justice to the
Cancellation branch. The parties to each
suit are brought before the Judge. Law
yers are rot allowed to represent the
parties and no set procedure is required.
The judge by question and suggestion
seeks to elicit the point at issue. While
no controversy Is permitted to be drawn
out at length. each party is allowed to
state his case in his own way. 1t was
remarked by one of the judges that this
permission to an ordinary litigant to
have his say has a marked psyche
logical effect He feels that even though
the decision may have gone against him
ne has not been restricted by rules the
meaning and significance of which Is not
always apparent
When the essential facts are brought
out the judge is required by the rules
Ito seek to effect an amicable adjust
iuent of the differences between the
parties to the suit" As matter of