Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-17
H|Tz SAYS COURTS
OF D. c. OBSOLETE
Judge Declares Entire SyS-
tenn Here Should Be
0verhauIed.
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that somebody did what I did. They
said they were greatly worried at the
delays and the congestion on the courts
and the short days that they were work
ing. LitigantS have told me the same
thing. Therefore 1 have no apology to
offer for what happened.
Now, among some of the things they
told me dissatisfied them was that you
have a working day down there that
never exceeds four hours, and this
schedule We had showed that it aver
aged less than three hours day per
Judge, and it was the complaint that a
lawyer can hardly get started on case
before the court adjourns for the day.
1t is just impossible to get nearer to a
minimum than the report indicates you
are operating on down there now.
Il am frank to say that We have no
authority to compel you to work any
harder, but it does seem to me that
the judges would be expediting their
work."
Justice Hitz Responds.
Justice Hitz responded that he did
not agree that the hours and minutes
that the court sits convey any conclu-
sive indication as to the amount of
NOTk IL accompanies.
Earlier in the hearing, with Justices
Stafford and SiddonS in the room,
Chairman Simmons said:
1T is probable you men have seen
this report of the Bureau of Efficiency
on your court for a week, because /
have transmitted it down to the eXecu-
tive department. Here, in Justice Cor
don's report. in the week of January
6, on Monday he held court for 35
minutes, on Tuesday he held court for
hours and SO minutes, on Wednesday
for 3 hours and so minutes, on Thurs
day for hours, on Friday for l hour
and Is minutes and nothing on Satur-
day He had total time of IS hours
and minutes for the week"
Judge Stafford heard Judge Cor
don say today that there was a week
where he was in court only for an hour
day. He was there to hear the cases
and the district attorneys Office did not
have them ready, and perhaps pleas OF
guilty came in.
Mr.. Simmons-Now, Judge Hitz. the
same week. was present neither Monday
nor Tuesday, so far as holding court is
concerned. He puts in hours on Wed
neSday, 2 hours and IL minutes on
Thursday, hours and 80 minutes on
Friday and nothing on Saturday. There
were two torenoonS and three after
moons of the f1ve-day week that he was
not holding court.
Justice Siddons did little better. On
Monday he had 4 hours and 20 min
utes, on Tuesday a half a day, with 2
hours and so minutes; on Wednesday
hours and 26 minutes; on Thursday
hours and ID minutes; on Friday. 4
hours and Is minutes, or a total of &c
hours and 2 minutes during a week OF
five days.
Justice Bailey, on Monday, had ;
hours and SIS minutes; Tuesday 8 hours
and 80 minutes; Wednesday. 8 hour.
and As minutes; Thursday hours anc
so minutes, and half a day on Friday
of 2 hours.
During that week you (Judge Stat
ford) held no afternoon court, which
probably an equity court would be jus.
titled in no doing.
Stafford Recalls Illness.
Judge Stafford-Well, will saw this
that have been back now at work nv,
weeks. I, was sick and in bed for 81,
weeks, and I came back against the or
ders of the doctor.
Mr.. SimmonS-We understand that
you have not been well.
Judge Stafford-And at first, for 6
while, was only able to work half 6
day in court.
Mr.. Simmons-For that same week
Justice Wheat got in II hours and ST
minutes.
Judge Stafford-Oh, yes. He has beer
putting in long hours. 1 want to say Il
you a word about equity work. We get
the records that we have to examine
outside; we have many such cases al
the Court of Appeals gets, that have Il
be examined, and We have to do 1t OF
the bench. Now, there is never a time
when the court breaks down that We
have not work upstairs TO do and thai