The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-12
Reforms in the Judicial
 System of Alabama
By VILLA N. E. FORT Judge of the Tenth Circuit of Ala m

the expediency of revising and amending such constitution and laws so as 10 pro- mote the efficient administration of jus- ! uee and to report as hereinafter provided One of the commissioners shall be desig- mated by the governor to act as presi- dent of the comm sson. Sec. ?. The members of the commfs- sion shall not receive a salary. but each Sn3li be entitled to his actual and neces- saFy expenses Incurred iu the perform Ance Of his duties under the provisions If this act. to be paid by the state treas drer on the audit and warrant of the state auditor, certified to by the governor The said commission snail meet flor or Sanlzauon as soon as may be at a time and place to be fixed by the governor, at which time and place they shall appoint d secretary of the said commission. In -3se of a vacancy in said commission oc- turing by death. removal. resignation or staeTwise, the same may be filed by ap- poiutlnent by the governor of the state
 See. ,. Said commission is hereby au- ,horized and empowered to employ a sec 'etary counsel, experts, stenogra phers. Jerks and such other employees as may 1e necessary for the purpose of their in ,estigation and report
 Sec f. The duties of said commission shall be follows:
 l. They shall investigate the opera ton of the constitution and laws which relate:
 a To the organization of and methods or handling judicial business in
 W. The system of courts for the state at large: and
 @. The system of courts in any metro polttan district or districts of the state.
 b. The methods of selecting, disci-I plining and retiring judges.
 c. The rules of practice and procedure.
 d. The administration of the criminal law.
 e. Trial by jury and the methods of selecting juries
 f. The salaries of judges and the sala ries or compensation of other judicial and administrative officers and employees attached to the courts.
 g. The selection discipline and retire ment of officers and employees of the courts. the clerks of court and their employees.
 h. The organization and duties of and methods of doing business by such off cers clerks and employees.
 l. Methods of selecting, disciplning and retiring members of the bar, their organization and conduct
 section ,. Under each of the heads contained in the foregoing section, or others detailed and comprehensive, the commission herein provided for shall
  faction with the administration Of jus tice and
 .. Make recommendations which to them seem proper for the elimination of such causes for dissatisfa ction; and
 3. Prepare the draft of such constitu tional amendment, or amer ailments, or re- vision, and also such legislation consistent with the present constitutional amend ment, amendments or revision which they 1aar will, in their judgment most effectively tend to remove any such causes for dis satisfaction.
 Section G. The commission herein pro vided for shall embody the result of their investigation in report which shall be prepared in proper form for publica ton, with a full index, and shall be trans mftted to the governor on or before the ...... daV f........,..,.............., A. D., ......... The commission shall also draft and file with the governor any amend ment, amendments or revision, of the constitution and any bill or bills, embody- ing it's recommendations, and he shah transmit the same to the legislature for their action thereon.
 Section [. The sum of ................. dollars or so much thereof as may be necessary. is hereby appropriated out of any moneys in the state treasury not  such manner, and in such sums, and at such times. as the governor may certify to the auditor, who shall draw warrants on the treasurer for the same'
 If such legislative commission recom- mends changes in the present constitu- ton, the governor and legislature would thus be advised in time to pass the proposed bills or to urge the calling Of a constitutional convention, if necessary.
 It seems to be the consensus Of opinion among progressive and thoughtful law yers and certainly the opinion is wide spread among the people outside the profession that our constitution and the body of our laws need modernizing before they can be efficient instruments of justice in serving democracy whose vision has been clarified and whose soul has been uplifted by the stern lessons of war. The question Of reconstruction problems is great and our responsibility for esta ablishing and practically applying justice to these problems should not ,e denied or delayed
 Birmingham, Ala, January ,, 1913.