Great Falls daily tribune., 1919-01-28
BILL REDUCES
JUDGES TOEvEN
COURTS TASKS
Senator Larson Finds
Way to Offset Dis
trict House Bars.
COMPARES CASE TOTALS;
SOME STAFFs TOPHEAVY

Helena, Jan. 27-Findinz himself
,locked by the judiciary committee of
the house in bringing about the passage
Of his bill for new judicial district COM
nrlsing Teton and Toole counties, Sena-
tor H. O. Larson Of Teton is preparing
for a course of action which will make
possible the creation of his district and
the granting to it of resident Judge
without increasing the number of district
Judges on the payroll of the state.
Senator Larson's bill for the new dis
trict had passed the senate and, after
having been transmitted to the house,
had been acted upon by the judiciary
committee before the Teton senator real
zed just what was happening. Before
be had a chance to explain the merits of
the bill to the committee. it had recon-
mended to the house the slaughter of the
measure.
Would Drop Four Judges.
Accordingly, after making an appeal
q the house judiciary committee To re
snrrect his Twentieth district bill for re-
consideration, he gave notice in the SEN
ate Of bill, the objects of which would
he to reduce the number of judges in the
First, Fourth. Fifth and Tenth districts.
in which there are now two or more
judges.
Tn the First district, consisting Of
Lewis and Clark county. there are two
Judges with but 57+ cases filed in 1918.
Tn the Fourth district, including Mis-
souia. Mineral, Ravalli and Sanders coun-
ties. supplied with three judges, 93f
cases were filed in 1918.
In the Fifth district, consisting of
Reaverhead, Jefferson and Madison
counties. two judges last year received
In the Tenth district, Fergus county,
with two judges, 917 cases were filed
in 1918.
In comparison with these districts.
Senator Larson shows that in his own
district. the Eighth. consisting Of Cas-
cade. Teton and Toole and accredited
with but two judges, there were filed
last year 1898 cases. or 1000 more than
were flied in the fourth district with its
three judges.
Of these 1888 cases, the largest num-
Der filed il any district Of the state.
Az were filed il Teton county and 155
in Toole county and, according to
Larson. this number does not represent
the total growing out of those two coun-
ties. for the reason that, as the judges
reside in Cascade county, many cases
are brot direct in the court at Great
Falls which otherwise would be filed in
the county Of their origin.
Effective Two Years Hence.
Senator Larson compares the Teton
and Toole cases filed with those of
Lewis & Clark county, which has two
judges, as follows:
Lewis & Clark. civil 3S4, criminal Sc,
probate 1J4. total Jl4.
Teton and Teole, civil 4I4, criminal 53,
nr,hata 1aD r4-
"There should be three more judges
appointed" said Senator Larson, 'one
for Teton and T'oole. one for Sheridan,
and one for Fallon, Prairie and Carter.
We may not be able to get new districts
created in addition TO the number now
existing. but by cutting off the four as
provided by my bill, we can fill the needs
and still have one less judge than q.
present.
My bill would not become effective
for two years, and it merely means that
there need be four less judges elected
at the general election two years hence.
In this connection, the house, during
this afternoons session, passed motion
by Coburn, of Teton, for reconsider
alton by the judiciary committee, OF
Larson's senate bill -. for the creation
of the Goth judicial district.