The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-19
LAWYERS OPPOSE REDUCTION OF THE
 NUMBER OF JUDGES
Committee From Local Bar to Fight Proposed Reduc- tion of Judges of Cir
 cult Court of County

Voting unanimously in ia vor of appointing committee of 50 representatives from the Birmingham Bar association to protest against the reduction of the number of circuit judges in Jefferson county, by the state legislature was adopted at the association meeting held in Judge c. c. Smith $ court room Friday morning, with Judge J. T. Stokley presiding.
 Judge Stokley appointed this com mittee to go to Montgomery and pro- test to the legislature against the adop- tion of the recommendation of the leg islative committee on judiciary to cut down the number of judges here. The motion was made by George Bondurant and amended by William Vaughn in that it is the sense of the bar meet ing that there should be no reduction of the number of circuit or municipal court judges" Several prominent at- torneys made speeches favoring the continuance of the present number of judges in Jefferson.
 PROTRACTED DELAY
 "Protracted delay in securing justice practically means a denial of it, said Erie Pettus, in commenting favorably upon the proposed recommendation of the bar association. ITO reduce the number of judges would materially de- lay the securing of justice in the courts by making it impossible to secure trials in a reasonable time"
 He said the increasing population of Jefferson brought a similar increase in litigation and instead of diminish ing the number of judges that it would probably be better to add to the pre- sent number of ten, for people will al- ways have differences and if the courts are not the proper way to reach agree ments it is probable that some other manner of reaching decision will be made.
 He pointed out that many people had expressed the belief that the proposed compensation law would diu HdlcIldlly in reducing litigation. but there would always be differences between employer and employee and with the new revenue bills, and income tax laws this will make new sources of litigation.
 BUSINESS BEEN SLEEPING
 Business during the war has been sleeping and since the signing of the armistice it has taken on a new im Nrir,e noxp court claims, he said. Think of the number of automobiles increasing from about 400 in 1906 to more than 5000 at the present time. This is a source of much controversy in the courts. yet at the same time international tribunals are being formed for the settlement of disputes between nations, the Alabama legislature is considering the reduction of judges in Jefferson who settle dis putes among individuals"
 He closed his speech paying high tribute to the late Judge A. O. Lane, saying he was one of the most care full judges who ever sat on the bench and pointed out the probability of re- ducing the number of judges which in his opinion would tend to hasten pre- mature trials.
 Vigorous protests were offered against the reduction of Jefferson's judges by George Bondurant in intro ducing the resolution and William Vaughn, J. B. Ivy, J. T. Glover. G. R, Harsh. and Judge c. C. Nesbitt.
 A resolution against the abolition of the Jefferson county official court re- porter was passed following the speech of A. Z Brazelton, official stenograph- CT. calling attention to this bill not be- fore the legislature.
 It is expected that the Birmingham bar will make a vigorous fight before the legislative committees against the cutting off of any circuit judges here.