Evening star., 1922-11-26

the Y. N. C. A. Law School. The
United States Court Of Customs
Appeals holds court at 719 18th street.
The presiding judge is Marion De
James F. Smith, Orion VI. Barber and
George Z. Martin. The court has
jurisdiction over appeals from the
boards of United States general ap-
praisers. 1t reviews both law and
fact.
The District of Columbia has five
courts. While all of these are federal
In scope: two of them are similar to
state courts, and three correspond to
city courts. The highest of these is
the Court of Appeals. which occupies
its own building in Judiciary Square
The chief justice is Constantine j.
Smyth. and the associate justices are
Charles Fl. Robb and Josiah Van
Orsdel. Recently judges of the United
States Court of Customs Appeals have
been assigned to sit temporarily with
this court in order to expedite its
business. This court. like any state
court of last resort, hears appeals
from the lower courts. The Supreme
Court of the District of Columbia
occupies the United States courthouse.
It has jurisdiction over civil cases
involving more than $1,000. over
crimes. probate and admiralty. 1t
also has equity Jurisdiction. The chief
Justice of the Supreme Court of the
District Of Columbia is Walter 1.
Mccoy and the associate justices are
Wendell P. Stafford. Frederick L.
Siddons. William Hitz. Jennings
Bailey and Adolph A. Hoehling. The
Municipal Court of the District of
Columbia, located at 321 John Mar
shall place, near the District of
Columbia Supreme Court. hears all
civil cases In which the value of
property. debt or damages claimed
does not exceed $1,000. The judges
are George c. Aukam, Edward b.
kimball. Robert E. Mattingly. Robert
n. Terrell and Mary O'Tooie. The
Police Court has jurisdiction over
mtsdemeanors. It's building is at Sth
and ID streets. and the two judges are
robert Hardison and John P. Nc
Mahon. The Juvenile Court is pre-
sided over by Miss Kathryn Sellers.
tnls court has jurisdiction over
Juvenile matters.
Quasi Judicial Bodies.
According to our system of govern
ment, the three divisions of it are of
equal Importance The legislative
branch, represented by Congress,
makes the laws, the executive branch
enforces them and the judicial branch
interprets the laws and dispenses JUS
tice under them. Many of the execu
tive departments have quasi judicial
functions, however. For instance, the
Interstate Commerce Commission
holds hearings before which attor-
neys and witnesses appear, and its
eleven commissioners hand down de-
cisions just as court does. Suits
concerning orders Of the commission
formerly went before the United
States Commerce Court. situated in
Washington, but this court was abol-
ished several years ago. The Federal
Trade Commission is an executive
body OF five commissioners, which can
summon before it those who have
used unfair methods of competition,
hold hearings and issue orders. Ap-
peals from the decisions of these two
commissions are now taken to the
United States circuit courts Of ap-
peals. The Office Of the Federal Trade
Commission is at 1000 D street. while
the Interstate Commerce Commission
street sand Pennsylvania avenue
Among other executive departments
having legal functions may be men
toned the patent Office, general land
office, pension bureau, bureau Of in
ternal revenue, and. of course. the
entire Department of Justice. Patent
law Is distinct speciality, and now
adays graduate courses leading to thu
degree Of master Of patent law
IN. p. L. are given III most Of the
local law schools. The five examin-
ers-in- chief of the patent Office form
a board to which appeals are taken
in cases involving patents. From their
decisions .auusa.S 20 to the Court of