Evening star., 1923-12-23
Speed Justice by Fewer Law Suits
And Civil Arbitration, Urges Davis

upon one thing which i believe the
law should do or rather should not
do. Laws should not fx rigid penal
ties. That should be left to the dis
eretion OF the judge. II he is the
right kind of a judge. he viii temper
Justice with mercy and Will give due
consideration to tbs circumstances
and temptations of the Offenders
whom he must sentence.
Up to the Public.
How are we going to make sure
Of getting the right men for judges"
"Ah," responded Mr.. Davis "you
should put that question to the
American voter. You may argue
about the desirability Of the elective
system for judges. but the American
people have repeatedly and emphati-
cally decided that they want to Sc
lect their judges, and it seems to me
the question is. therefore, not open
for discussion. The bar associations
do their best by giving public in
dorsement to candidates whom they
believe fitted for the bench, and re-
fusing it to men whom they regard
as unfit. but that is all We can do.
The voter has the final word"
Mr.. Davis" I said, you have re-
ferred to the responsibility of the
public for delay and expense in the
administration of Justice. This is one
factor, however, with which surely
the bar itself must BE- particularly
concerned. How about the unscrupu-
S~o
finds his victims most commonly
| among the poorer and more ignorant
classes of tho people? How is he to
be eliminated?"
That question is. I suppose, as
old as law itself" said Mr.. Davis,
"and it is an evil which cannot be
cured by any panacea. The Ameri-
can Bar Association has been work.
ing for many years to free the legal
profession from undesirable members.
We are trying now to put into effect
reforms which I believe would prove
OF very material benefit. In the first
place we demand that the bar shall
be judge of its own membership or, in
other words, shall be the master of its
own house. We believe that the Diff
the power to expel unworthy mem
hers Of their profession. This has
already : been done in three states
where the bar associations have been
incorporated and given the power of
disbarment.
Poorly Equipped Lawyers.
In regard to admission to the bar,
We believe there should be more
rigid requirements in regard to edu-
cation. We would make 1t obligatory
for every man applying for admis-
! sion to the bar to have at least two
years of university education or its
equivalent, and three years training
In a thoroughly competent law school.
As one step in that direction, we
have q committee engaged at present
In listing those law schools, which we
believe are equipped to give a young
man the proper training. Of course,
we cannot insist that candidate for
the bar must attend one Of these
schools, but think that the moral
effect Of the publication of our list
will be sufficient"
Good or bad, have We not far too
many lawyersT was my final ques-
ton. s,.
THAT may be true, but I do not
know how you can set any limit to
the number of lawyers any more than
to the number of doctors, engineers or
any other profession. The American
people would never consent to any
artificial limiting of opportunity In
any direction. The only thing I know
that might be done would be to edu-
cate young men to the disadvantages
Of being . lawyer, and much might
be saia sn that point"