Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-26
Two More Justices Needed.

Blame for congestion in the District
Supreme Court can be laid almost
wholly upon the law of supply and
demand. The demands Of litigation ex-
coed the supply of personnel available to
handle it. The seven justices who now
sit in the District Supreme Court are
unable to keep abreast of current bust
ness. With docket containing an &C
emulation of old cases-many Of them
four years and more old-there are
daily additions that exceed in number
those disposed of by court action.
In the Criminal Courts the situation
is particularly bad. The Police Courts,
far behind themselves in their ability
TO furnish jury trials, are piling up more
cases every day for the grand jury
The grand jury has reported 756 in
dictments that have never been brought
to trial, some of these indictments
stretching back for more than four
years. When District Attorney Rover
came into ofice, he disposed of 7S0
old cases by nolle PROSE- which he
had inherited from former administra-
lions. But even with this attempt to
wipe the slate clean and get fresh
start, he has witnessed the number OF
indictments grow with astonishing
rapidity. When he relinquishes office,
his successor will probably resort to the
"nolle" route also, in an effort to weed
out obstructing cases, with the result
that time and money spent in securing
these indictments will be wasted, not
to mention the fact that those legally
indicted will escape trial,
The stars court reporter emphasizes
the fact that in the years since the
number Of justices for the District SUI
preme Court was fixed at six, the popu-
lation of the city has trebled. This IN
itself might explain the congestion To-
day. The court was recently increased
to seven justices. But this increase IS
wholly inadequate. The city has tren-
led in size, and with this growth there
has been the normal increase in the
business of Government transacted here
in washington. This growth has natu-
rally been accompanied by increasing
Federal litigation. Suits against canl-
net officers and those involving the
manifold activities of Government nu-
reaus and commission are filed In
the local courts. Purely local litigation Is
sidetracked in favor Of Federal con-
domination cases and other Federal bus
mess. This Federal business alone mas
been enough to bring about congestion
The trials In the Governments prosecu-
ton of cases growing out OF the oil
scandals have been many and lengthy,
The Governments building expansion
program has resulted in a flood of con-
demnation cases.
If there was any possibility that the
District Supreme Court could catch up
in its work, even though that process
required a number Of years, the situa-
ton today would not be so seriously re-
garded. But there is apparently no
hope of catching up. Each year the
legal blockade becomes worse. With
two more justices on the bench, it is
pointed out that the situation would in
some measure be relieved. This may
not be the only solution or the correct
solution to the problem. But l. there
are others Congress, should spend some
time at the next session in discovering
them and putting them into effect. The
present condition must be remedie6.