Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1922-04-08
Chief JUSTICE
SCANLAN EXPLAINS
HIS VIEWS ON
CRIMINAL COURT

Chief Justice Scanlan of the Grim
inal Court explains his suggestion
that the succeeding chief justice be
permitted to name the judges to sit
in that branch of the court.
The explanation was the result of
criticism of his remarks by those who
believed it to reflect on the sitting
judges. In speech Judge Seaman
had said that the appointment of
Judge Kavanagh would cause about
80 per cent of this so-called crime
situation to fade away"
The statement read:
Il am informed by a number of per-
sons in whose judgment | have great
faith, that many people in this COM
munity understand t h at | have
made statements rejecting on the
efficiency and integrity of the judges
now sitting in the Criminal court of
Cook county.
Il have made no such statements.
In my opinion some of the very best
of our judges are now serving in this
court
Il am told that many people think
that | have stated that the present
personnel of this court should be
changed. I have made no such state
ment The constitution of 1870 pro-
vides that the terms of the Criminal
| court shall be held by one or more of
the judges of the Circuit court or
Superior courts of Cook county, as
nearly as may be, in alienation.
This provision is not strictly fol-
lowed. but next July, in accordance
with the practice that has been OBJ
served for many years, new judges
will be assigned to the Criminal
court to serve there for a year and
at the same time, in accordance with
a rule of court, the new chief justice
for said court will be elected to serve
for the same period.
Il have stated that in my opinion,
it would be a good plan if the coming
chief justice should be given the right
to name the new judges in order that
he might thereby have the opportun-
ity to achieve the fullest possible CO
ordination in the work of the judges.
but did not in any way indicate or sug-
gest what judges he should or should
not name.
"Our judicial system in criminal
procedure makes for complete indie
pendence and individuality and is an
inheritance from the days when a
single judge rode the circuit and cas-
lily disposed of the work at hand. 1t
was not designed to meet the needs
of the criminal court of Cook county
with its numerous judges, all vested
with equal authority, and its enor-
| nous criminal docket
'"The necessity for complete CO.
ordination is obvious and imperative
it's attainment, under the present sys-
tenn, is extremely difficult, if not i'm
possible
''In suggesting Judge Kavanagh for
the next chief justice, as | did in an
| extemporaneous talk the other night.
I did not thereby mean to imply that
| he was the only judge fit for the
| place. Judge Kavanagh is nationally
| known as an able and fearless ex
pOnent of the doctrine that the Grim
| inal laws should be sternly enforced
4
| selected should be a man of his type
| William ]. Healy is growing in
strength as a Republican Candidate
| for Mayor.
| William J. Lindsay, stalwart Demo
crat and eminent lawyer, is much
talked of for place on the superior
court bench. His elevation to thi:
place would strengthen the judiciary
| because of the firmness and lega
ability he possesses.
North Side people, regardless o
politics, want Frank A. West in tn,
| County Board