Evening star., 1932-12-20

Among some OF the prize appoint
ments to be made by President Roose-
welt. when he and his Democratic CO.
hortS come into power, will be the va
cancieS In Federal courts, and the posts
of United States district attorneys and
United States marshals throughout the
country and the Territories.
Federal Judges, once appointed, are
on the bench for life, unless they are
impeached or resign, but Territorial
judges, district attorneys and United
States marshals are appointed for four
year terms, subject usually to the polit-
ical exigencies Of turnover Of admin
istration.
What President Roosevelt and his
Attorney General will do remains to be
seen, but it is matter Of keen inter-
est. particularly to those Democratic
hopefuls who may have their eyes on
the coveted posts
The practice of Presidents in the past,
according to those familiar with the
procedure, has varied. In the old days
it was the custom to sweep out the
whole lot Of district attorneys and mar
shals as soon as possible after the ad-
vent OF q new administration, replac-
ing them with men Of the faith Of
the successful political party.
Methods Changed.
When President Wilson came In to
change the administration from Taft's
Republican regime, the newly appointed
Attorney General. James c. Mercy
nolds, now associate justice Of the
Supreme Court of the United States,
adopted a policy of allowing some of
carry on for time, instead of calling
at once for their designations. The
gradual change in personnel had be-
gun, however. before he was elevated
from the he.t of the Department Of
Justice to the S preme bench.
At the next ch 4nge of administration,
when Harry Daugherty became Attor-
ney General under Republican Presi-
dent Harding, policy was adopted de-
signed to allow recent appointments to
continue in office, provided they had not
yet served for four years. Those who
had served for four years in Office. how
ever. were on the list for change,
and were changed.
Now the Senate is showing dLspo-
sition to refuse confirmation of Presl-
dent Hoover's new appointments.
In the District of Columbia, the new
President will have among his out
standing appointments in the Depart
ment of Justice and courts. the naming
of his Attorney General, seven Assistant
Attorneys General and one Solicitor
General. There is vacancy in the
District Juvenile Court, for which post
Miss Pearl Mccall was nominated. but
failed of confirmation. She recently
was nominated again, but Judge Kath-
ryn Sellers, whom she was scheduled to
succeed, is still serving on the bench.
Rover's Term Ends In 1888.
District Attorney Leo A. Rover will
have concluded his four-year term OF
office In that post January IA, 1888.
shortly before the Democratic admin
istration comes in on March 4. He will
of course continue in Office until his
successor is installed. The United States
marshal Edgar C. Snyder, was ap-
pointed for his present term April %.
1880, for four years. He had previ-
ously served under Presidents Harding
ard Coolidge.
Police court judges here are appointed
for six-year terms. Only two of these
terms, Of Judges Ralph Given and Gus
A. Schuldt, who is presiding judge, will
expire during the next four years. The
term of Judge Isaac r. Hit will expire
March 4, 1886, the end OF the four-year
presidential period, unless the lame
duck amendment" is ratified
The term Of Judge John P. Mcmahon
expires later in March, 1896.
Throughout the country, the posts
which are now vacant, or will become
vacant before the Democrats come in
in March, include several judgeships
and district attorneys.
In addition to the nomination of
Pearl Mccall to be local juvenile Judge,
two other judgeship nominations have
so far failed of confirmation by the
Senate One was the noted Judge
James H. Wilkerson of the Federal
court at Chicago, who sentenced AL
Capone. He was nominated by Presi-
dent Hoover to succeed George T. Page
Of the Seventh Circuit Court, who re-
tired Judge Wilkerson recently wrote
to the President asking his nomination
be withdrawn.
Another nomination which failed of
confirmation is that of Kenneth Nc
Intosh to sit on the Ninth Circuit
bench in the Pacific Coast area. to sue
ceed Judge Frank H. Rudkin who died.
Among the existing and prospective
vacancies before March in judgeships
and the posts of district attorneys are
the following:
Circuit Judge of the Eighth Circuit in