The Washington times., 1921-05-21
|D.C.MANURGED
FOR JUDGESH|P
Lawyers Want Member of Local
Bar as Successor to
Gould.

i
to appoint a Washington lawyer to
the bench of the Supreme Court OF
the District Of Columbia to succeed
Justice Ashley M. Gould, whose
death yesterday caused profound
grief among the legal fraternity OF
the Capital.
MOST CASES ARE LOCAL
Washington lawyers take the stand
that while the District court Is
Federal court. that nine-tenths of the
cases before ii are of a purely local
character. ard therefore a Wazhing-
ton lawyer should be the one best
fitted to pass on the issues involved
Then too. they claim that Wash
ington possesses as able lawyers a.
can be found anywhere in the United
States. Members Of the legal fra
ternity. however were loath to dis
cuss a successor to Justice Gould say
ing that they had not recovered from
the shock of his sudden death and
that they believed that while the
President could find much available
material to hll the vacancy on the
bench caused by Justice Gould's death.
that it would be almost impossible
to fill Judge Goulds place.
CASES NOT AFFECTED.
The general opinion among the law
yers in the city and the officials of
the court was that the death Of JUS
tice Gould would not make much diff
ference in the cases coming before
the court. The Arnstein case, IL was
said. was a matter Of record and some
other member Of the court woruld
pass sentence on the defendants. 1t
was also argued that the case will in
all probability be appealed and even
go to the Supreme Court of the United
States. 1t was said, however, that
there are about two or three small
cases which would be affected, but
that it would not make a great deal
Of difference,
THREE NAMES MENTIONED.
Three Washington lawyers today
were mentioned as the most logical
successor to Justice Gould. They
were Leon Tobriner. Clarence R.
Wilson and A. A. Hoehling. jr.
Those advocating the appointment
Of Mr.. Tobriner said that his quail
fications were that he was well
versed in local Jurisprudence and
probably was one of the best-posted
lawyers in the District on bank
rutpcy matters. 1t was said that one
of the divisions of the court would
deal largely with such matters and
that during these days Of reconstruc-
ton, while not expected. there might
be a series of business failures and
with a man Of Mr.. Tobriner's ability
to adjust matters, Washington would
be the gamer.
Another argument put forth in Mr..
Tobriner's behalf. aside from his abil-
tiles, was that he was a Jew. There
has never been Jew on the bench
of the Supreme Court of the District
of Columbia, and II was believed that
1t would not only be good business,
but also good politics and fine senti-
ment to have a man of Mr.. Tobriners
race on the bench.
In advocating Mr.. Wilson for the
place. his friends and admirers point .
during the Taft Administration and
for the first part of the Wilson Ad-
ministration. Mr.. Wilson is also one
OF the leading members of the Dis
trict bar and has a host of friends.
Mr.. Hoehling was put up for a
place on the bench a few years ago
but President Wilson appointed Jus
tice Thomas ]. Bailey of Tenn.
The appointment of either of these
three men ii is said, would be ac-
ceptable to the Bar Association.
Justice Gould was Washington
ian, II was point out and the Dis
trict should furnish his successor.