The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-29
District Judges of the State
Hold Meeting Here Today.
Many Think Simplified Court
Methods Are Badly Needed.
MEETING AN INFORMAL ONE
DOwner of Syracuse Discusses
Settlements Out of Court.
ID. A. Banta Delivers Address
on sThe Divorce PROCTOR

Hereafter the district judges of
Kansas will keep in closer touch with
the legislatures and with legislation.
Besides administering the law tne
Judges at least pin to offer sugges-
tons at the time of its making
A resolution offered by II W. Sar-
gent, OF Wichita, was adopted by the
association today calling for the APP
polntment of a committee by the
CHAIR subject to the call o. the chief
justice. The committee will meet
once in two years with the chief JUS
tee of the supreme court and discuss
matters that should be taken before
the legislature at the next ensuing
session.
Because of the fact that j. c. Rup-
penthal, chairman, was required at
another meeting, Judge c. A. Short
ot~Ottawa, presided at the meeting of
th@ district judges today. The sessions
are being held in the supreme court
rooms. The program was barely
touched at the morning session and
the adjournment was until O'Clock
this afternoon
Twenty-Five of the thirty-eight d.:
trlct Judges of Kansas attended the
opening session and some of the miss
ing thirteen are IN Topeka.
The chief purpose of the tenth am
nual meeting of the district judges IS
the matter of simplifying the system
OF trlal courts Judges and attorneys
all over Kansas are recognizing the
need and legislation is proposed for
this session of the legislature to th4s
| end.
Subjects Discussed.
The chief purpose of the tenth an
nual meeting of the district Judges of
| Kansas. session in the
court chamber today. is the matter of
simplifying the system of trial courts
Judges and attorneys all over Kansas
are recognizing he need and legisla-
| ton is proposed for this session of
the legislature to that end.
There are five subjects upon the
program for general discussion and all
relate to the same thing-the judicial
system and possible improvements.
zine program was prepared by Judge
j. e. Ruppenthal. of the Twenty-third
| district, chairman II, of the orga nization.
The program is unique in that <
leaves all subjects open to discussion
by each and all of the district judges. j
All the discussions are informal: they
may lead anywhere and to any length.
| The district Judges will adjourn the-r
meeting tonight. It will not be per-
mitted to interfere with the sessions
| of the State Bar association begin
ming Tuesday morning. III matter
eft after tonight's adjournment will
| De taken up later.
There are just two subjects on the
program assigned to individuals. Late
/ this afternoon George j. Downer. OF
Syracuse. the Thirty-second district,
will speak on the subject: How Tar
| May Judges Encourage Settlements
Out of Court?" and still later n. A.
Banta. of Great Bend. of the Twen-
tieth district, will talk of THE Divorce
! Proctor
Simplifying System
1.-THE possibility of simplifying our
system of trial courts which now n
cludes district. probate. juvenile. JUS
| tice of the peace. city and police
courts. with Jurisdiction varying great
ly as to territory and subject matter.
| is receiving serious attention. said
Chairman Ruppenthal. '"Tne Better
Government League of Kansas. end
| also legislators, have earnestly re-
quested the consideration of the prob
lem by the district judges and al ex-
preston of their views"
The session began at $3.50 O'Clock
| today with a fair attendance of judges.
| The first subject taken up was The
Judicial system of Kansas There
is no time limit on discussions and any
member of the association is at lib
ertv to express his opinions
! Other subjects for discussion during
I the days program are: Can the
judicial system be improved so as to
administer Justice more certainly.
|
us one court trial and one appeal
to the supreme court sufficient for all
| litigation?'
would divisions of one trial court
meet all needs now met by various
courts?''
Are our trial courts mobile
| enough?"
Those Participating.
The district judges of Kansas all
| eligible to PARTICIPATION in today's
meeting, are follows:
| j. Fl. Wendorff Leavenworth: w
A. Jackson. Atchison: A. w. Dana To-
peka; G.. II. Whitcomb. Topeka; c. A.
| Smart. Ottawa; w. c. Harris. EN-
| poria, f. c. Gates. Fort Scott: ]. w
| Finley, Chanute: r. L. King, Marion:
F. F. Prigg. Hutchinson; ]. o. RAN
| kin. Paola; J. N Dunbar Columbus:
j. c. Hogin, Belleville; A. r. Ayers.
Howard: ]. w. Holdren. Cherryyale;
r. NJ Pickler. Smith Center; e. c.
| Clark. Parsons; w. S. Langmade.
Oberiin: r. F. Bird. wichita: T. w
Sargent Wichita; o. p. Fuller, Win
field; D. A. Banta. Great Bend: F. r.
Smith, Manhattan: w. e. Stuart. Hia-
! watha: J. C. Ruppenthal. Russell
Geo. L. Hay, Kingman: E. L. Fischer.
4 City; w. Fl. Mechanism, Kansas City;
Dallas Grover. Salina: L. NJ. Day.
Greensburg; Geo ]. Downer. SYRIA
cuse; A. S. Foulks. Ness City; c. n.
Sparks Goodland; r. c. Heller. Usage
City: f. T. WOODBURY.. Holton; Oscar
Foust. lola, and A ]. Curran, Pitts