Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-21
OAR PLANS PROBE
Of CHARGES AGAINST
JUDGE c. /. HOWARD
President Branch, of Atlanta
Association, InStruct0
Committee to Investigate
Latham's Accusations

AT the request of a number of
leading lawyers who met voluntarily
in his office Monday, James A.
Branch, president of the Atlanta Bar
association, has called on the griev-
ance committee of the association
to conduct a sweeping investigation
into the charges made Saturday by
Edgar Latham, widely known at
tOrney, in connection WITH the APP
pointment of Judge G.. H. Howard
as judge of the newly-created di-
vision of the Fulton superior court.
1.-The meeting did not undertake
to pass upon the truth of the
charges" President Branch said,
but it was the unanimous opinion
that in view of the grvity of the
charges they should not be permit
ted to pass without a prompt, full
and fair investigation by the griev-
ance committee at public hearings.
evidence to be reported by a stenOg-
rapher and the committees findings
reported to the entire association
for action"
Inquiry Board Named
The hearing win be started within
few days, and all parties involved
VI COIlC6I1lCd Will NC "
give their testimony, Mr.. Branch
said. He added that the following
members of the grievance commit
tee probably would conduct the in
Quiry: Robert z. Jones, John A. Sib-
ley and Marion Smith.
1t was learned that the meeting
in President Branch's office lasted
for more than two hours, and that
there was q full discussion of Mr..
Latham's charges, which were to the
effect that Judge Howard made him
the proposition that he would have
Governor Walker appoint Solicitor
John A. BOykin as judge of the new
division, and have Mr.. Latham
named solicitor, if the latter would
agree to split the fees of the office
with Judge Howard. Mr.. Latham
charged that he laid the full facts in
the case before Governor Walker be-
fore the appointment was made, and
advised the governor that he did not
believe Judge Howard was d gift sub
hject" to hold any judicial office.
Expected Appointment
Mr.. Latham, with practically the
unanimous Endorsement of the local
bar, he said, had expected to be
given the appointment
Mr.. Latham said Monday he did
not care to discuss the situation fur
Their. He declared he had given the
full facts" in his previous state
ment, in order that the local bar
| and the general public might under
stand how the matter had been han
| died.
Governor Walker also had no
statement to make, resting on his
previous statement that he had
named one of his loyal friends to the
judgeship. Judge Howard managed
the governors campaign last year.
Judge Howard said he mad no
statement to make, and that he felt
1t would not be proper for d superior
court judge to engage in d newspa.
per controversy over Il matter that
was terminated with the governors
official action in making, the appoint
ment last week.
PLACE FOR NEW JUDGE
TO BE ARRANGED SOON
Quarters have not yet been assign
ed for the new criminal division of
the Fulton superior court, to be pre-.
sided over by Judge G. H. Howard,
but definite arrangements are ex-
pected to be made Wednesday after
noon at the regular meeting of the
Fulton county commissioners.
Judge Howard stated he is holding
himself in readiness to begin work
as soon as the preliminary details
are arranged. Nothing but emer-
gency business is being transacted
in the state courts this week, and
it was not believed he would be
called on to begin work before the
September term.