The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-14
COULD NAME JUDGE OF CITY COURT ID AID IN CRIMINAL WORK This Course Is Suggested to Governor Henderson
 by Judges ALSTON COULD SIT
 IN THE CITY COURT In Communication to Governor, Judges Certify That Third Judge Is Neces- sary to Relieve Congestion and
 Dispose of Business

There is probability that an addi- tional judge will be provided for the criminal court of Jefferson county to commence his duties on the beginning of the April term and continuing un- til the term is completed. and that one of the four judges of the city court of Birmingham will be desig mated for this service. This action IS | made possible under a section Of an | act approved August {, 1907, empower ing the governor to designate enc of the city court judges 10 act as special judge of the criminal court should the occasion arise. Following u conference of all the city court judges and the two judges of the criminal court Governor He'll derson was informed that an addition al judge was necessary to dispose of the business of the criminal court and request made that he designate one of the city court judges to act as spe- cial judge in the above court. This. communication was forwarded to the governor yesterday and he will prob ably act on it at once as he has taken q vital interest in the effort to relieve the congestion of the criminal court of this county.
 It is understood that in the event one of the city court judges is so des- ignated by the governor it will not in. terfere with the business of the city court as it is stated that Supernuner.' ary Judge Alston will be assigned by the governor to fill the bench in the city court made temporarily vacant by the transfer. 1t is said the reason that Judge Alston could not be assigned to the criminal court is that the law creating his office only applies to civil courts.
 Letter From Judges
 The letter to Governor Henderson and the certificate of the several judges is as follows;
 Birmingham March 13, 1915.
 Honorable Charles Henderson.
 Governor of Alabama, Montgom-
 cry:
 Dear Sir-lhe undersigned be-
 ing all of the judges of the c.im-
 inal court of Jefferson county
 Alabama, having this day con ferred, by request of the judges of the criminal court of Jefferson county. Alabama, to the 9Isi- ness of said criminal court of Jeff ferson county, and it being the opinion of a majority of all the judges of said courts: in fact 1t being the unanimous opinion of all the Judges of said courts, that the services of an additional Judge are necessary to dispose of the bus mess of said criminal court of Jefferson county, do hereby cer- tffy to You as governor of the state of Alabama that the selv- ices of an additional judge are necessary to dispose of the ousi- ness of said criminal court oc Jeff ferson county, and that the serv- nf a61 i.,I.~ necessary for the entire April term of the criminal court of Jefferson county, beginning on the first
 Monday of April, 1915. and ending at the adjournment of said crim- inal court of Jefferson county at
 the close of the April term of said court, which by law must adjourn
 on or before the first Monday in
 July. 1915.
 This certificate is made under
 section l of an act approved Au-
 gust IA. 1907 tsee local acts of 1907. page SSD and We hereby re-
 quest that ycu as governor of Ala
 bama designate one of the judges of the city court of Birmin gham
 to act as special judge of the crim- inal court of Jefferson county For the length of time above desig- mated. Respectfully submitted.
 "II A. SHARPE,
 Judge of the City Court of Err
 mingham
 "CEIARLIsS W. FERGUSOM.
 Judge of the City Court of Bir-
 mingham.
 JOHN II. MILLER
 Judge of the City Court of Blr-
 mingham.
 JOHN c. PUGH
 Judge of the City Court of Bir-
 mingham.
 "WILLIAM E. FORT,
 Senior Judge of the Criminal
 Court of Jefferson County. Aia- bama
 "1 P. HEFLIN.
 Associate Judge of the Criminal
 Court of Jefferson County, Ala
 bama,"