Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-10
PROCTOR IS SLATED
TO SUCCEED H|Tz
Supreme Court Justice Re-
ported Destined for Court
of Appeals.

President Hoover is understood to
have decided to appoint James M.
Proctor, prominent Washington attor-
ney, to the District Supreme Court, to
succeed Justice William Hitz, who is
said to be slated for elevation to the
Court Of Appeals of the District.
This was learned from an authorita-
tive source at the White House this
afternoon, but there were no indica-
lions that these appointments would be
sent to the Senate today. There is
some likelihood that Mr.. Hoover would
wait few days before officially making
the nominations.
BY elevating Justice Hitz to the high
er court, President Hoover will fill one
OF the two places on the Court of APP
peals created recently by. Congress. The
PRESIDENT was represented today as not
having made up his mind yet regarding
the filling of the second of these two
places, but it is believed the latter will
not remain vacant very long. He is
understood to be awaiting recommended
tons from the Attorney General
III was upon the recommendations
OF the latter that the President is I'M
derstood to have made his decisions
regarding the elevation of Justice Hitz
and the appointment of Mr.. Proctor
to the lower court. The task of looking
over the field of available material for
the bench was delegated to the Attorney
General by the President. Attorney
General Mitchell is known to have
withheld making any recommendations
until he had gone very carefully into
the requirements and the individual
records and abilities of the names be-
fore him.
Promotion Not Surprise.
The promotion for Justice Hitz will
come as no surprise. 1t is known that
he was offered the chief justiceship Of
the Supreme Court when the time came
for Mr.. Hoover to select a successor TO
Walter /. Mccoy upon his retirement
last December, but for reasons of his
own preferred to remain as an associate
justice. Justice Hits record on the
lower bench is known to have been
especially appealing to the Attorney
General and the President.
Mr.. Proctor's selection will come as
considerable OF surprise inaSmuch as
his name has not been mentioned pub
licly In the speculation during the con-
sideration of aSpirants for these bench
appointments. The White House is
understood to have reasons TO feel that
his appointment will be a highly popu-
lar one not only because of his recog-
nized ability, but because of his wide
acquaintance and his personal charac-
teristicS
Besides an enviable record in the city
as lawyer Mr.. Proctor has a war rec
ord, obtained as an officer of the line
In France, of which he has every cause
to be Justly proud.
Mr.. Proctor was recommended for
this judicial appointment by the Dis
trict Bar Association as we'll as a large
number OF prominent attorneys and by
the local Republican organization.
Native of Washington.
He is native of this city, having
been born here AZ years ago. After
from the public schools he
studied law at George Washington Uni
versity, from which he graduated in
1904. He was at once admitted to the
District bar where he has since prac-
ticed. He served as an assistant United
States attorney for this District from
1906 to 1913 and during four years of
that period he was chief assistant
United States attorney. Leaving the
District attorneys Office in 1918, Mr.,
Proctor has successfully engaged in
the private practice of law in this city
and is at present engaged as a special
assistant to the Attorney General in
litigation growing out of riparian rights
in this city.
When the United States entered the
World War Mr.. Proctor was married
and the father of two small boys there
was no probability of his being called
to military service; he was enjoying a
very lucrative practice in his profess
sion; nevertheless. he Immediately en-
tered the first officers training camp
at Fort Myer. Va, and in May, 1917,
was commissioned a lieutenant of In
fantry.
Among those who are known to be
under consideration for the remain
ing Court of Appeals judgeship are Paul
Sleman of Chevy Chase, Md. who has
been strongly recommended to the
President by Senator Goldsborough of
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