Imperial Valley press., 1932-04-15
DEMAND
JUDGES
GIVE UP
Bar Association OF Los
Angeles Asks Resigna-
ton OF Three Jurists.
THREATEN RECALL
Report Of Investigating
Committee Bristle s
With Condemnation.

LOS ANGELES, April Is. U.P)-
Resignation of three superior court
judges accused of having accepted
gifts from state receivers of Am
erican Mortgage company proper
ties, was demanded today in a re-
port of the Los Angeles Bar associ-
atoms judiciary committee, ap-
proved by the board of trustees.
Unless the judges resign volun-
tarily, the organization proposed to
initiate recall proceedings in the
November election, or to take other
such steps" to effect their removal.
The report eliminated month
of investigation. Its AZ pages
bristled with condemnation, not
only of the three judges whose re-
moval was demanded, but of others
concerned in receivership affairs.
The judges given an ultimatum
to resign are Walter Guerin, Daley
S. Stafford and John L. Fleming.
The report accused Guerin and
Stafford of having accepted gifts
of clothing or loans from Charles
F. Allison and A. j. Showalter, de-
posed state receivers for the mort
gage company's one-time $4,000, 900
properties, and declared the con-
duct of Fleming 'unethical and
dangerous" in receivership appoint
mentS. Fleming was accused of
accepting favors from the receivers.
The report stated:
"AS to Judge Walter Guerin,
Judge Daley S. Stafford and Judge
John L. Fleming, it is our conclus-
ion that each has conducted him.
self in his judicial office in man.
ner contrary to judicial ethics and
prejudician to the proper adminis-
tration of justice.
THE actions of each of them
constitute violation of long and
well-established principles govern
ing judicial conduct, and directly
concern the interest of the public
which looks to the court for the
unprecedented determination of the
rights and obligation of litigants.
1T is our conclusion, therefore,
that Judge Walter Guerin, Judge
Daley S. Stafford and Judge John
l.. Fleming should not be continued
in judicial office.
SheldOn's Act Improper
LAS to Judge Caryl M. Sheldon.
his act was highly improper, wheth-
er he accepted a Gift or made a
wager, but his relations with Re
ceiver Allison do not appear to
have involved any court proceed
ings, except in one minor instance
above cited in this report.
I'VE are not entirely convinced
that he did not receive the suit of
clothes from Allison as a gift rath-
er than as the result of wager.
I'VE do not at this time recon-
mend that any action be taken
toward his removal from office, but
that your board hold the matter in
allegiance and later take such ac-
ton in his case as further investi-
cation and developments may de-
termine to be proper.
In the matter of Judge Walter
S. Gates, we conclude that his ac-
tions in recommending persons for
employment by receiver of the
court were indiscreet and improper,
and are contrary to the code of
judicial ethics. However, Judge
Gates initiated the investigation
which brought about this inquiry,
and has acted vigorously in remov-
ing receivers charged with irregu-
laritieS. In view of these and other
circumstances We recommend
no further action in his case"
The judges mentioned in the re-
port refused to comment, nor did
the three whose resignation were
demanded indicate whether they
would comply.
The county grand jury was to
resume its investigation Of the re-
ceivership situation today, with
Showalter, who testified Yesterday,
again to be witness.