Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-01
REPORT CENSUR|NC
JUDGE IS ADOPTED
WITH 8 DISSENTING
J, 0, Wood, Barred From
Addressing Association
Scores. Action of Lawyers
After Meeting Is Adjourned

After Meeting Is Adjourned
With five members protesting on
grounds of 'lack of Jurisdiction,
the Atlanta Bar association Friday
upheld the action of its grievance
and executive committees in sus-
tanning Attorney Edgar Latham's
charges against Judge G. H. How
ard, new judge of Fulton superior
court, and condemning the jurist's
conduct as "illegal and corrupt"
Attorney j. o. Wood. non-mem-
Der of the association, enlivened the
session by demanding recognition to
make a statement for Judge How
ard. Ruled out of order by Presi-
dent James A. Branch. he called on
all non-members to assemble with
him in an adjoining room and hear
his statement. Only few retired
but later he addressed an audience
of thirty or forty persons, who
passed resolutions denouncing the
associations action and indorsing
Judge Howard.
Judge Howard, IN a statement is
sued shortly, after the association
acted, said he intended to conduct
his office in way that would gain
the confidence of all the people o.
the state. He reiterated that he
would present his side of the case
to ANY tribunal having proper au-
thority."
Several Hundred Attend
A crowd of several hundred per
sons packed the courtroom, and
heard the vigorous speeches which
were delivered before the, associa
ton took action.
Attorneys j. K. Jordan and Frank
A. Hooper, ST., defended Judge
Howard and questioned the jurisdic-
ton of the association. Mr.. Jordan
said the dignity of the judiciary was
at stake, and that only the senate
of Georgia should go into the
charges, after impeachment pro-
ceedings had been properly lnsti-
tuted. Mr.. Hooper warned that the
association was Setting a most
dangerous precedent"
Mr.. Arnold defended the assocla-
tons right to take action, and de'
clared that politics should not be
allowed to creep into the appoint
ment of judges.
"Too much politics~is the curse OF
this state" he said, land If polltlcs
is to control judseship appoint,
ments, sooner or later politics VIII
be controlling decisions in the
'V The e. five members Of the associa.
ton voting against the commit
tees reports were John j. Haunson'
J. X. Jordan, Frank Hooper. Sr.'
Claude Rowe and Colonel z. T.
Brewster. The latter declared, IN
explaining his vote, that the bar as.
ISOLATION had no Jurisdiction ana
should not take up the controversy.
He suggested that the association
adjourn and name a committee OF
lawyers to carry the fight to It's
proper conclusion.
Colonel Brewster previously had
declined an invitation to speak while
debate on the committees report was
in progress, but made his statement
Immediately after the vote was taken
by way of explanation of his vote
against the adoption of the report.
Court Room Crowded
In calling the meeting to ORDER
| President James A. Branch announc-
ed that it was the semi-annual busl-
ness meeting of the association. Sew
eral other matters, including the In
duction of a dozen new members,
were first disposed Of. The court
room was crowded, many non-mem-
bers of the association being pres
ent.
Attorney Hal Lindsey moved that
some arrangement be made to sepa-
rate the association members from
the non-members, in order that
there might be no confusion in vot-
ing.
IT don't anticipate" President
Branch replied, that any one in
the courtroom who is not a member
of the association will attempt to
vote"
Grover C. Middlebrooks, chairman
of the executive committee, then
submitted the report of findings
which condemned Judge Towards al
legged conduct as illegal, corrupt
and contrary to public policy" He
proposed that the report be adopted
as the attitude Of the entire bar as
ISOLATION. Attorney Reuben Arnold
took the floor to second Mr.. Middle
brooks motion, but was interrupted
by ]. o. Wood, editor of the Search
light, and one of Fulton county's
representatives in the legislature,
who demanded to be recognized.
Wood Is Ruled Out
"You are out of ORDER" declared
President Branch. "You are not
member of this association and non
members have no right to speak
here. 1t is only by courtesy of the
association that you are allowed in
side the room"
Mr.. Wood protested, declaring he
wanted to- make an explanation.
President Branch was firm and ask
ed Mr.. Wood to "please show proper
respect to the association" He told
Mr.. Wood that full hearing had
been held before a committee, and
that persons desiring to be heard
should have appeared at that time.
Every well, then" shouted Mr..
Wood Indignantly. Then turning to
the audience, he said:
II ask all non-members to meet
me Immediately in Judge Ellis court
room. There I will have something
to say"
About ten or fifteen persons then
retired from the court room and
quiet was restored in a few min
utes.
Moves to Curb Speeches
Attorney J. K. Jordan, one of
Judge Towards representatives,
proposed that six speeches be made
on each side of the case before ac-