Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-06-21
|NEW COURTSL|KELy
FOR DRY LAW CASES
The Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
623 Riggs Building.
BY THEODORE TILLER

WASHINGTON. D. c., June 49,
Prohibition cases have SO clogged the
dockets of the District Court of the
United States that at the instance of
Attorney General Daugherty a corr
mittee of prominent lawyers has
been in session here for two days.
discussing a plan to relieve the con-
gestion.
This committee has practically
reached the decision that one of two
courses must be Characterization
O.. additional judicial districts. or the
Volstead law cases anG other liti-
cations that might be transferred
from the district courts.
The committee appointed by Att )r-
rey General Daugherty to represent
the American Bar association and
other legal organizations in the
preparation of some program to re-
lieve congestion in the courts in
cludes, among others, Henry w. Taft,
of New York; Thomas 3. Fielder, of
New York, formerly Of Atlanta; for
ner Senator Hoke Smith. of Georgia,
Alabama. Reports received by this
| committee and the attorney general
show there has been large increase
in the business of the federal courts
| most of which is attributed to the
prohibition law. n consequence
dOcketS are COnSeSISu Win SINAI!
| criminal cases.
"The COMPOSITIONS in the federal
courts" said former Senator. Hoke
Smith today. SIS giving considerable
concern to judges and district at
torneys and lawyers generally. The
committee here in Washington is en-
deavoring to. expediate its lnvestiga'
ton so that a prompt report may be
| made to the attorney general.
| 1.-TWO courses are being considered
| the establishment of Inferior courts
| TO handle smaller business and an IN
crease in the number of d1stric
courts and judges. The COMMITTEES
will make it's report to Attorney
| General Daugherty. who will, in turn
| make recommendations to congress:
| in accordance with the plan finally
| worked out. Early relief is desired
by the district courts
| 1t is believed here that should thu
attorney generals committee o. law
yers recommend either plan now un
der consideration by the commlttee
| there will be response in congress
| Already there has been discussion
among senators of the feasibility Ct
clothing United States commission
ers with the power to hear prom
| bition cases. The only serious CD
| lection offered to this. 1t Is sald. u
| the fear that in giving a commlsSloi
| further judicial powers there Woulf
also be conveyed life tenure of otAc'
on the constitutional provision ina
Judges shall hold office during coco
behavior"
It is not desired to create severa
hundred new inferior ejudges, bu
| senators say it may be possible =
get around this. A rlumber of Dill
are pending in congress to create 40
/ ditional -judgeships in various states
In every instance. congestion Of bust
ness, pricinpally due to sVolsteat
law cases, is given as the reaso'
for asking such legislation. Senate
Harris, for instance. mas asked for
new judicial district in Georgia.
/ Attorney General Daugherty VIII
receive reports that he end of tn
| fiscal year on the state of the dock
Il cts in all federal courts and the
will have something to present {:
con grass