Evening star., 1935-03-10

| istrates' courts to handle petty GRIM
inal cases, such as charges of drunk
enneSs, disorderly conduct ard minor
trafic offepSes, was projected last
night by Corporation Counsel Il. Bar
rett Prettyman as a step toward re-
lieving the serious congestion in Po-
| lice Court.
Prettyman's idea Is based upon the
English system of justices of the
peace, under which public-spirited
citizens serve without pay as presid-
ing officers Of the minor courts, SIM
ply for the honor of performing
worthwhile public service.
The suggestion indirectly Is an out
growth of the recent hue and cry
that brought about the investigation
of the courts and police by a special
House Crime Investigating Committee
headed by Representative Randolph,
Democrat. OF West Virginia. Pretty
man has not yet been summoned by
| the committee, nor does he know
whether he will be called. II sum-
moned, he said last night, he may
lay the plan before the committee.
Won't Push Proposal.
IT may outline my ideas on the
subject for the committee" he said,
"and let them determine what 1t Is
worth"
Prettyman made 1t clear that he
has not planned to present the pro-
posal to Congress. and ask for legis-
lation to carry 1t out. II it meets
with approval, however. he may make
the legislative proposal later.
The corporation counsel pointed
out that during the last fiscal year
81, 800 cases were sent to Police Court
from his ONCE and approximately
$500 more were presented by the dis
trict attorneys ONCE. With such d
heavy docket the Police Court was
constantly crowded.
OF these cases. he pointed out. al
most three-fourths of them were for
minor offenses, such as could be han
died by the proposed magistrates
courts. These would be established
he said. in the police precincts, prob
ably two in each precinct. and two
sessions would be held daily, for ex-
. ample. two hours each morning and
two hours each afternoon.
Minor Traffic Charges.
They would be given Jurisdiction
over ordinary cases Of drunkenness
disorderly conduct, violations of DO
lice regulations, driving without a
permit and minor trafic charges, such
as parking overtime or in restricted
zones.
The magistrates also would dispose
of speeding cases II no accidents were
involved, and II the case simply meant
that the driver had exceeded the limit
and had done nothing more serious.
The same rule would hold true in cases
of driving past street cars or having
faulty brakes.
In cases involving q multiplicity Of
charges. the magistrates would be en-
powered to commit the accused per-
son to Police Court for trial. The
most serious charge made against the
defendant would determine whether
he would try the case himself or send
it on to Police Court for disposition.
"A number Of recent publications, E"
Prettyman said. have called atten-
ton to the justice Of the peace sys-
tenn in vogue in England, especially
in Birmingham, a city of a million
population, and have made the very
interesting suggestion that the same
system might be tried out in this
country.
Civic Interest Requisite.
Those justices serve without COM
pensation, the sole attraction being
the opportunity for public service and
the exercise Of real civic power. The
persons appointed are selected because
Of their established position in the
community, their civic interest, and
their ability to devote the necessary
time to the work. Here in the Dis
trict we have an oyerburdened Police
Court, an overburdened staff of
prosecutors. and the mass Of work Is
amazingly increasing.
That court handles well over 1000
cases q week We have a real need
that this court should devote its time
and attention to the more important
of its cases, especially in view of such
measures as those already proposed,
giving that court jurisdiction over
negligent homicide and increasing the
limit of petit larceny from S35 to
SIS.
"At the same time, we have among
us hundreds of available people, such
for example, as retired Army. Navy
and Marine officers, retired Govern
ment officials, retired or independent
business men. public-spirited women
versed in organization, etc. many of
whom have had long experience in
dealing with people, are of unimpeach-
able character, and have some train
ing in Government service.
They have q livelihood, but moth
ing with which to occupy their time
or thought. We are wasting that
vast superb reservoir of knowledge,
experience and real capacity and am
bition for public benefit and service.
Sees Interesting Question.
"In the light of these recent refer
ences to the British system and the
facts concerning the situation in the
District, a most interesting question
arises as to whether 1t would be prac-
tical and desirable to elevate the status
of our Police Court to a criminal court
of general Jurisdiction inferior only
to the Supreme Court of the District
q. e., to indictable offenses) and
create in the various sections of the
city magistrates courts to handle all
the multiplicity Of minor cases, these
magistrates to be appointed by the
President, but to serve without COM
pensation or for 81 year.
ut would be extremely interesting