The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-04-23
KEEP AWAY FROM
COURTS SLATER
Judge Tells LegiOnnaires
It's Cheaper and Better
to Stay Away.
EXPLAINS PROCEDURE

The American court system Is the
greatest institution for public good
in the nation today-but stay away
from it.
That was the advice that came
straight from the heart of one who is
in the center of that system end who
ought to know whereof he speaks
Hon. John c. Slater, judge of the
municipal court. Judge Slater adj
dressed the meeting of the American
Legion on Tuesday evening in most
instructive talk on courts and court
procedure.
"Our courts are instruments that
remedy wrongs, that mete out justice"
he continued. "But keep away from
them. It's safer and cheaper
"The greatest lawyers in the coun-
try are seldom seen in the courtroom.
They earn tremendous fees honestly
by trying to keep their clients out of
the courts and by showing them how
it is to their best interests to remain
that way. I'll give you that advice
and information free Of charge. Don't
get into court. The winner is always
the loser"
Praises Women Jurors.
And this advice was given in all
seriousness, according to the judge.
There are certain incidents, he said,
that come into every day life which
give rise to dispute and arguments.
There hasn't yet been an argument or
a dispute that could not have been
settled outside Of the courtroom if
only the participants in the litigation
acted more human, the Legionnaires
were told. And the advice goes dou-
BILE in every branch of the court sys-
TEN, from the justice court to the
criminal courts, he added.
In his address Judge Slater outlined
a brief sketch of the various courts
from the lowest to the highest, and
explained their several jurisdictions
and court procedure. He declared
that he would not let the opportunity
slip by to give word of praise to the
woman juror.
at is comparatively new thing"
he observed, "but it has taken hold
very well--the woman juror. I'm
proud of them. Some of them are
even more effective jurors then men.
There was time when the idea first
was put into practice when women
would come to me positively refusing
Jury duty of any kind. They forgot
for the moment that they were Ameri-
can citizens. But they have gradually
become accustomed to accepting this
duty and it is no longer a novelty to
have a jury composed of women"
Do Biggest Business Here.
Judge Slater declared that the
municipal court of Kenosha county
did a greater amount of work than
that of any other county in the state Of
Wisconsin outside Of Milwaukee. He
pointed out that during the fiscal year
ending December 81, 1924, the NUM-
cipal court had taken in in fines from
violations ordinances and criminal Of
lenses the sum Of $56,758.50.
"That is considerably more than it
ought to be. Of course Kenosha has
large foreign element and it will be .
long time before all of these come
to really understand the American
laws"
The speaker went on to show where
all Of this money went to, how it was
divided, and for what purposes it Yves
spent. "The city," he said, "gets all
of the fines received for violations of
the city ordinances. But in criminal
cases the state gets the money. This
is spent for education and is pro-
rated by the state treasurer to each
county in the state. The defect in
this arrangement is that often times
the county which enforces the law the
least gets the most money while the
county that enforces the law the most
gets the smallest share of what it
raised for the state. But it all goes
for education and / don't believe we
ought to find fault"
Have Splendid Entertainment.
An unusually excellent entertain-
ment program was presented at the
meeting by Gene Saftig, chairman Of Z
the Legions entertainment commit
tee The following persons took part:
Mrs. Edna Starr, Miss Margaret
Schmitt, Francis Mayer and a trio
consisting of Ed. Mccartney, Miss
Nina Davenport Kuehn and Richard
Francis.