Omaha daily bee., 1919-12-30
State Senator Peterson, Chair
man Of Inquiry Committee,
Fails to Mention 1t in His
Report to Association.
BIG QUESTION WILL BE
SOCIETY INCORPORATION
Strong Fight Made Against
Election Of Six Justices of
State AT LARGE Instead Of
From Districts.

Just 20 seconds were consumed in
reading and adopting the report of
the committee on inquiry at the
twentieth annual meeting of the Ne
braska State Bar association, in the
Hotel Fontenelle yesterday after
noon.
The chairman of the committee. c.
Petrus Peterson of Lincoln, had sent
word that he would not attend the
convention this year.
AS chairman of this committee it
is his duty to investigate complaints
of unethical conduct against lawyers
Of the state.
The report of the committee made
no mention of the Kirk case. 1t
consisted Of a dozen short typewrit-
ten lines written on a letterhead of
the law firm Of Peterson & Devoe
Of Lincoln. of which Mr.. Peterson is
senior partner.
This is the firm which was active
in securing the "furlough" of Beryl
E. Kirk. sentenced to 20 years in the
renitentiary for the murder of Po-
lice Officer Frank Rooney. The
"furlough" has stirred up the state
and especially the lawyers of the
state District judges, headed by
Presiding Judge Redick, called upon
the supreme court to probe the case
and commission appointed by the
supreme court is now investigating
it.
Sears Demanded Probe.
District Judge Sears. in a public
statement Two weeks ago, declared
that the state bar association should
not meet without probing the activ-
tiles of lawyers in the Kirk case to
the bottom. A criminal case in Judge
Sears court yesterday kept him from
being present at the meeting.
Charles A. Goss, only member of
the committee on inquiry present at
yesterdays meeting, said he was NOT
in favor Of the convention taking
up the Kirk case.
"The supreme court is investigat-
ing any activities that lawyers may
have had in it." he said.
Fight "at Large" Justices.
A strong fight developed yester-
day of an item in the joint report
of the committee on legislation, pre-
sented by Judge Ernest B. Perry.
This item recommended clause in
the state constitution providing for
election of the chief justice Of the
state "at large" and the other six
justices, one from each district, in
stead of also "at large"
Matthew Gering of Plattsmouth
made a strong appeal for appoint
nent of supreme judges by the
governor.
"The best OF elected judges" he
said, ''is bound to think on every
decision he makes, especially near
election time, IN reference to what
effect the decision may have upon
the reelection of himself. All law
yers know that the best attention to
a case is secured where a Judge, ap-
pointed for long term of years, has
the case"
District Judge Morning of Lincoln
declared that he did not believe in
the primary system of electing
judges.
Judges are experts" he said, 1T
is a lottery to elect them | would
favor a sort of judicial primary,
made up almost entirely of lawyers.
These are men in a position to know
the qualifications of lawyers for the
judiciary. They could select and
nominate list of men fitted for this
high Office"
The convention finally voted 10. a
constitutional clause allowing the
legislature to- designate the manner
Of election of supreme court judges.
The joint report OF the committee
Continued on Page Two. Column Two.)