Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-20

Whenever several separation suits are set
for the same forenoon or afternoon, it
invariably occurs that a more or less
large concourse of outside parties is
present. These hear the petty Quarrels
and chickering's of the contestants, pic
ture themselves in the same plight or as
verging on it, go home more discontinued
than ever. Sometimes they soon talk 1t
over with their friends involved in the
case they heard. are advised to see the
same lawyer, by him they are encour-
aged often TO separate and sue, and the
divorce fraternity fattens, the divorce col
ony increases and society at large be-
gins to tremble.
The saving Of the courts time and
nerve energy, the saving Of county ex-
pense, the disposing of more cases in
given time, are al accomplished at the
| frightful risk OF encouraging unmeri-
| torious divorces. So have abolished the
divorce calendars.
| INTERESTS OF SOCIETY
ARE IMPORTANT.
Besides to MY mind, q divorce case
involving the two immediate parties, per-
haps one or more children, certainly the
interests of society is equally important
and deserving Of careful consideration as
mechanics lien cases involving perhaps a
>
sidering which q court will often spend a
whole day, or an appeal from a justice
Of the peace, involving necessarily not
| over $500 and which entities the party to
jury with full panel and costing the
county very often more than the amount
involved in the controversy. Contrary to
the view of the judge in the other county
referred to, I do not think that there are
any little divorce cases
~ 4
! butte Of divorce calendars, as such, Is that
not uneommonly d great number Of cases
| is set for hearing at days session. As
many as forty-two have been set and
/ heard in a single day. Personally, |
could not physically accomplish this
| much. To examine the complaint, to see
/ whether 1t and its accompanying neces-
| sary affldavits are proper in form and
substance, to examine the summons and
return or publication notice and proof
/ thereof, to see whether they are likewise
| sufficient, to examine the necessary
couple OF residence witnesses, to hear a
modicum of witnesses as to the merits of
/ the case, and to do them properly, tt zee,
I or at most, four cases, during half
4 day session is all can accomplish and
| confess l do not see how more can be
| done by other judges.
/ GIVES CASES ATTENTION,
/ THOUGH DISTATSEFUL.
still another important feature Of
/ the divorce calendars, as SUCH is that
| quite commonly the regular judge Will
appoint a member Of the Lar as judge
/ pro tempore to hear such calendar. Dis
agreeable adm distasteful though such
cases are in the mass, I prefer to hear
| them and give them the same attention
DO other court cases. I consider it a
! part of the years work, a part of the
duties I was elected to discharge.
Moreover, the special Judge so ap-
! pointed, is usually one OF the more
/ prominent members Of the bar, one whose
practice in divorce cases is exceedingly
/ limited and one who, in consequence, Is
/ apt to be very sympathetic, unduly sub
! ject to believe all he hears, but which
regular judge soon learns to discount or
/ to examine into more zealously, and one
who considers such an appointment as
more or less Of a pasdme, a sort OF
brief vacation. A very prominent elderly
lawyer, who served in that capacity in
one Of our courts, told me he had not
! fled a divorce case in over ten years and
! as a temporary judge, tried nearly thirty
divorce cases in one day and had granted
DEGREES in every one of them.
Experiences has demonstrated TO me
| that the best results are obtained when
the regular Judge tries the cases on his
/ docket, and in my own court, by having
no separate divorce calendar"
! Conc. udlng. Judge Mon said, II am
obligated to The Times for giving me
opportunity to voice a few sentiments
which l entertain. ! do not expect all
to agree with me but am 80 impressed
with the seriousness Of the divorce
problem and am sure that reforms can
be worked out along tho several lines
suggested, that feel constrained to voice
| them not so much to set myself right
with a large number OF critics at the
bar as to demonstrate the real concern
l feel in this so vital question"