The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-03-30
BAR ASSOCIATION
PLAN FOR REFORM
STATE JUDICIARY
Comprehensive Idea Affect
ing The Entire System
of Courts
CHANGE WILL BE
ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE
Judicial Councils to Be In
vested With Great Pow
er, if Adopted

Baton Rouge, La, March 2S--I0
secure the highest legal talent for
holding the important positions of
iudgesnips, is the object OF the judi /
ciary reform bill that has been intro,
vention. This is known as the Spen-
Ger plan, but it is not the work of
one man, but Of ppractically the entire
mem bership of the Louisiana bar as
sociation, and it has been endorsed by !
the bench and bar of the state, at a
special meeting. BY il, no one could |
hold the position of judge, even, in the
smallest court, unless he is learned n
law. Justices Of the peace would be
eliminated.
Here is brief outline of the struc
ture of the court as proposed by the
plan:
Supreme Court: Composed of one
chief justice and six associate justices
at least 35 years old, who have prac-
ticed law in the state at least ten
years and have been actual residents
of the districts from which they were
appointed at least two years immedj-
ately preceding their appointment.
This court would be divided into two
sections, each. composed of three as
sociate judges and the chief justice.
Courts of Appeal: One for each of
the four judicial districts into which
the state would be divided. Each
court composed of three judges, SO
or more years of age, who shall have
practiced law in the state fer at least
five years and been residents Of the
judicial district from which they ara
appointed two years next preceding
their appointment The Judge who
has been longest in the service ID pre-
side.
Districts Courts: There would -
a district court for each judicial dis
trict In the firs- judicial district,
there would be nina judges; in the
second, six; in the third. seven; in
the fourth, eight They must have
practiced law in the state at least five
years and been residents of their res
pective districts for two years i'm.
mediately preceding their appoint
ment.
Parish Court: There would be
one in each parish Only men licens-
ed to practice law would be eligible,
and they would have to be residents
of the parish at least one year next
preceding their appointment.
Attorney general and parish attor-
neys: The attorney general would be
elected every four years. To qualify
he would have to have practiced law
at least five years in the state.
In each parish there would be a
parish attorney, whose manner Of Sc
lection, tenure, duties and compensa-I
ton would be fixed by the general
assembly. Until the general election
of 1924, the district attorneys
now in office would be the parish at
braced in their respective Judicial dis
tricts as now constituted.
torneys of the parish or parishes en-
Judicial Council: There would be
supreme judicial council. composed of
the chief justice and three other jus
tices Of the supreme court appointed
in rotation by the chief justice 70
serve a term of two years. and the pre-
siding judges of the several courts Of
appeal and the several district courts
of the state. This council would be
empowered to:
Make or amend the rules of plead
ing, practice and procedure in the w.
rious courts;
Regulate number Of officers CT
coures and establish salaries;
Regulate cost Of proceedings, sub
ject to control of the general assemb-
ly;
"OApCI NASC UuoluGSS anu COuuuCL u
courts and judges;
Supervise work of district, judicial
councils:
Assign judges of one court to sit in
another when necessary;
Investigate charges of disability, ia
efficiency, neglect of duty:
Determine and recommend to the
legislature, whether courts should be
increased or decreased;
Make regulations for admission to
bar; prescribe rules. of conduct;
! The district judicial council In each
judicial district would be composed of
three judges of the court of appeals
and the presiding judge of the district
court and one judge Of the district
court, appointed in rotation by the
/ presiding judge Of the district to serve
two years. 1t would have authority
to:
Regulate the assignment Of judges