Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-01-18
TWO ADDITIONAL
COURT JUSTICES
NOT NEEDED NOW
Reynolds Opposes EnIarging
Tribunal at This Time;
Members Not 0yerWorked;
Docket Up to Date.
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO MORNING JOURNAL,


Santa Fe, Jan. 17.--Statistics to
prove that the two additional just
ices of the supreme court permitted
by the state constitution are not
needed now were supplied to mem
bers of the State Bar association in
q paper read before the afternoon
session by Justice Herbert F. Ray
nolds. Justice Reynolds showed
that the court was not behind in it's
work >and, as a member declared
that it's members We're not being
overworked.
The speaker showed that the ter
ritorial court in fifty-aine years
rendered and wrote opinions in
1896 cases and that since state
hood, a matter of nine years. S0i
opinions have been rendered and
written. He pointed out that the
Oldest case before the court today
was two years old on Sunday, but
that the opinion in the case had
been delayed by request of counsel
on both sides, as a settlement is
rending. The next oldest case was
submitted June q, 1920, the bal
arce of the cases were submitted at
the September term in 1920.
Only 1O7 Cases On Docket.
AS to cases pending on motions
for rehearing, the oldest was sub
mitted on September 81, 1919. Only
eight such cases are pending now.
There are now pending before the
supreme court a total of lO7 cases,
eleven having been decided by
written opinion since January l of
this year. From these facts, the
justice concludes that the court
was not oVerworked and that it was
not behind with its docket.
1t was expected that the associa-
ton would pass a resolution oppos-
ing any increase in, the supreme
court; but this was postponed until
tomorrow, when those favoring
such an increase will be given a
hearing. OH
Notable Paper by Bolts.
One of the notable papers of the
day was that delivered by c.. NJ.
Bolts of Albuquerque upon THE
Bar, a Body Polite" At the 1917
meeting, Senator o. L. Phillips
suggested that legislative .recogni-
ton of the bar be secured so
that membership in a duly incor-
porated bar association be condl-
ton precedent to license to prac-
tice law.
Mr.. Bolts showed how other
states had handled the question
and outlined the provisions of a
model law by which an association
might be formed in which all law
yers would be members. He pointed
out that the present grievance COM
mittee can only initiate or suggest
procedure looking toward disarma-.
ment and that it possessed no pow
ers of, dicipline. He urged that if
the bar association had power to
reprove and reprimand, it would
prevent little sins from growing
into big ones and protect the pro-
fession from the odium of disbar-
ment cases.
Proposes u Commission.
While special interpretations are
sometimes difficult. he showed that
all lawyers are in reality officers
of the state supreme court. He
proposed board of commissioners
of the state bar to consist of nine
members elected by the members.
Nominations for commissioner to
be signed by ten members. Voting
could be by mail. The board |
might prescribe the rules for adj
mission to the practice of law and,
with the consent of the suprems
court, appoint committees to ew
anime candidates for admission.
The state wide and all inclusive