Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-08

the people OF Richmond look upon tho
proceedings in this court as ono OF tho
best shows In town. and II weil-known
vaudeville actor has copied tho man
herisms and the language OF the court
ana appeared in all parts of the coun-
" win success as an entertainer.
The possibility or using the court as
overlooked In the cagerness TO amass
large total of fines. and II IS even
possible for defendant to avoid APP
pearahce In court at all provided he
sends In the Standard" fine. for his
otensc to the court clerk by messenger
The methods of this court add moth
ing to the reputation for jurisprudence
OF the State of Virginia. and tho MEM
Ders or the bar and the public should
ana lts dignity OF the court asserted
and maintained. One of the most seri-
GUS features OF the practice in this
REQUESTS from police officers that the
complaints thcy have brought against
eaSes be- hi s ana the
Dolh the Mayor and the public to in
vestisje. list of the cases in when
Judge may be found i'm the text Of this
report relating to the Police Depart
mcnt.
The terms OF the act of annexation
OF the city OF Manchester have been
construed TO require the continued en-
pioyment Of Il Police Court judge for
Police Court. Despite this duplication.
when the Police Court Judge Of the
Ola court ;akes vacation magis-
trhtc IL designated to sit In place Of
| the Judge. ana his salary Is paid out
of the funds of the Police Department.
This is an unjustifiable practice. and
should be changed SO that the judge of
Part II. shill be required to sit instead
OF OF IL mn ;,i in case Of the absence
as Part III. is abolished.
No Need FOR Two Courts.
1T Is recommended that Part II. OF
the Police Court be abolished even
Of Virginia may be required to do ii.
although 1t is not settled in the minds
OF attorneys that such an act will be
having two Police Courts In Richmond.
particularly when tie court now ends
it's sessions at II or 1870 A. N.
r. NJ. The judge OF Part ii. fire.
sessions for the relief OF persons who
may be arrested and who might other
wise be detained Illegally over night.
and he is to be commended for this
practice.
G,hcr recommendations regarding tho
| Police Court are:
| by tic Mayor for term of not less
tran ten years. and that his salary be
!aid out OF city funds: that he he re-
movable only through impeachment
proceedings brought before a court OF
hi-her Jurisdiction.
THAT the cost Of operating and main
tanning this court be borne by the
! city.
THAT the cost and fee system in
'1hat all fines collected in this court
! be paid into tho city treasury
THAT the laws he amended SO as TO
hermit ~ Sunday session OF ;he
'Th..t the laws be amended so as to
provide for the inauguration Of tho
| probation system. tho granting OF aus
/ pended sentences by the court and tho
appointment OF p-oha,ion officers.
IIhat the las be amended :" as To
mons procedure similar to ~" statute
now in effcc. IN The city nf New York
That the laws hc amended ~ TO
! provide that in I'll felony cn..R IN.
! approval az the commemorative NJ
torncy be required bcror" bond ia
acc. pied by tn" court. and th:u hc he
/ investigate tho securities offered.
THAI III" clerk ana al attaches ot
tho court DO appointed hy the Mayor.
! examination; that the clerk he rc-
nuircc to quality - ;; *icnoEraphcr .nd
! policeman for this service be discom
timed
THAT tho procedure and records nj
III" cour' bc iimriiGcd. and that III"
! Inferior Courts Act of the city OF New
FORK he adopted az 81 guide In rcYiriut;
the procedure and the court records.
/
| tho administrative officials 81 TIE city
Of Richmond and tho Legislature, tn,
Police Court justice be required by
statute TO prepare and nlc officially 81
/ complete and detailed annual statement,
/ OF The business carried on in the court.
That III" practice Of delcEatins II:
| court and trial powers to tho maGis-
| tratcs be discontinued NJ once; that. as
city departments. there be held spcr ial
sessions of Tie Police Court for the
/ hearing OF cases involving violation OF
the traffic ordinances and departmental
/ regulation.
/ Hear Women in Privntc.
/ That the cases in which women arc
defendants be heard either in private
| chambers or after the cases of the
male prisoners have been completely
disposed Of; that no spectators be adj
mitted TO hearings in cases where the
/ The police officers and newspaper rep
rcscntatives be admitted; that the pro-
cedure for the acceptance OF bail bonds
be revised. so as TO provide that All
bondsmen be required to make COM
plete and detailed statement OF prop
erty holdings in affidavit form. and that
! ton OF their residence. their occupe-
ton and the location OF the place Of
their business; that n stenographic rec
ord he MADE OF all examinations in
felony cases and in such cases as are
held for trial in the higher courts or
for the grand jury. the testimony to be
Commemorative attorney: that fines be
collected in the inside office. and not
in the open courtroom. and that the
procedure he changed so as to mako
! this reform possible; that police Of
iicers awaiting the trial OF their cases
be REQUIRED to remain seated In part
of the courtroom specially set aside
for them, and that no smoking be
permitted in the courtroom: that po-
licemen when testifying. appear prop
cr!y uniformed and that detectives anu
policemen performing duty in plain
clothes display their shieldr on the
lapels OF their coats when in attend
ance at court; that no person other
than counsel. police officers and wit
nesSes in the specific case being heard,
be admitted within the Enclosure i'm
mediatciy before the judges desk. and
about or loiter back of the Judges
desk. or in tie doorway Immediately
back OF the judge; that all warrants
III criminal matters be issued by the
Judge OF the Police Court: that there
be maintained 4 register OF warrants.