Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-12-09
GREAT RECORD BY
MUNICIPAL COURT
REPORT PREPARED FOR LEG
IsLATuRE SHOWS YEARS
WORK.
MORE THAN Se,5oo TURNED
INTO TREASURY OF CITY
Class A Civil Cases, Formerly Heard
in District Court, Tried at Average
Cost Of Se.4o-Former Cost Eight
to Ton Times This Sum-Details Of
Clerks Report.

for it's first year and the saving or
court costs In the trial or cases
formerly heard In the district court.
are shown in a report prepared by
the court clerk, r. B. Grimes, FOR
submission to the Iowa state iegis-
lature. The report will be submitted
with similar reports from othel
municipal courts in Iowa in support
of requests for changes in the munl-
cipal court laws.
The principal feature Of the report
is the showing on hearing OF class a
cases, civil actions involving sums
from 500 to $1,000. One hundred
nine such cases. which would have
gone to the district court prior 10
the establishment OF the municipal
court, had BEEN heard from Jan. ~,
to Nov. so, the period covered by the
report. Tho average cost OF a class
A case has been $40. In district
court the average cost would have
been eight to ten times as great. II
Is claimed. Class B cases, involytns
sums under 500. ninety-three OF
which had been tried In the period
covered. were heard at an average
cost Of s4,95. The highest amount OF
costs taxed In any case was $sS.1o.
Only one case has been appealed 70
the supreme court.
The court has earned $6.513.05 more
than the expenses in this period.
Saving in Jury Fees.
The principal saving in municipal
court. as compared to district court,
In in jury fees. In the municipal
court turies of six are used. While
twelve are called to hear district
court cases. In summoning Jurors
for the lower court only the neces-
sary panel is called on the day the
case is to come to trial. In district
court large panel is summoned and
all talesmen, whether serving or not,
are drawing their per diem pay.
It is peculiar that the inauguration
Of the municipal court should have
been met with q demand for court
which "can pay its own way" No
higher court is expected to economic
to the extent Of showing profit.
The municipal court, however, has
done all that could be expected. The
original cost Of starting, including
the necessary court records and
printing, was less than $1,000. The
CITY pays half the salaries, or $4,000,
al provided by law.
Work Of Municipal Court.
The court was established Jan. 13,
and in the ten and half months
covered by this report. it heard 1922
cases. OF this number sos were
criminal cases. of which 345 were for
misdemeanors, Is preliminary hear
ings and 385 violations of city ordin-
ances.
In the civil section, 100 class A.
and SO class B cases were heard.
Fifteen search warrants were issued
for stolen property, gambling de-
vices and intoxicating liquors, max
ing a total of 1922 separate cases.
The total costs taxed in civil cases,
exclusive OF attorneys fees were 81
S76, Of which $915.25 was taxed in
class A cases and $459.75 in class B
cases.
Collections Of Court.
The receipts Of the court include
the following items:
Total fines collected 4,373.27
Bonds forfeited ............. 827.10
Criminal costs collected. -. 2,s25.s7
Civil judgments collected. -. 1.124.2S
Civil costs collected. ........ 10000
Total receipts ,852.71
The expenditures Of the court were
as follows:
Warrants drawn .......... .$2,46S. "a
Bailiff's mileage, etc. ....... s75.73
Total distribution ....... .$3,339.67
Transferred to city ......... 6,513.05
Total ..$s.s52.72