Evening star., 1936-12-06

THE battle Of cofiee sponsor to
= convert radio listeners to his
highly competitive product has now
developed into battle with lawyers
who are striving to protect their bread
and butter from the free legal advice
offered on programs Of the Good
Will Court" type.
In a number Of counties bar asso-
Citations have duly met, carefully
scanned the ominous phraseology Of
committees and subcommittee and
moved, seconded and unanimously
resolved that the growingly popular
"microphone trials" are menacing the
public peace and bringing downright
disrepute to the thousands Of laws
that barristers are sworn to uphold.
The original and authentic version
of this type of entertainment was
conceived some years ago in New York,
where A. L. Alexander enjoyed unin-
terrupted success on WMCA in han
ding program that has survived
very delicate impromptu continuity.
AS all listeners know. the procedure
is to bring before the microphone
folk who want the law to solve their
personal and financial problems and
who take advantage of the chance to
tell their stories to active or retired
jurists who appear on the program
for money which they turn over to
charity.
From the listeners viewpoint, the
program offers drama, intimate rev.
elation of juicy scandal and keyhole
perspective for an exhibition of life
on the half-shell. Into the coffee
sponsored microphone percolates the
grounds for Nell's divorce, the rea-
sons why Grandpa Ezekiel's will
should be broken and the story be-
hind the story that mama told when
the cops pinched her for dumcing the
potato peelings in that Jones wom-
ans backyard.
Metropolitan New York, where most
of the voluntary talent serving on tie
program is obtained, has been tE9
hotbed of barriSter indignation at the
so-called effrontery of broadcasting
as it donates the advice of we'll
known legal figures. demanding in
return only the right to let listeners
in on the proceedings. The crammed
tenement houses and crowded cellars
of the metropolis provide an endless
supply Of gripeS and grudges for an
tenna emanations.
After carefully auditioning typical
radio-court room programs and
thumbing their bylaws and canons
of professional ethics, members Of 4
special committee of the New York
County Lawyers Association recon-
mended that something be done about
the situation. Their advice to their
brother beNristers was to adopt rule
against the participation Of lawyers
in such activities.
Soon the other county bar associa-
tions were putting up bars against
radios own bar. After tossing few
unveiled hints about whether it Is il
legal for a business firm to hire law
yers and judges to give legal advice
for the chance of selling their wares,
the attorneys decided that their pro-
fessional calons should be amended.
Then it no longer would be ethical to
advise inquirers or render an opinion
to them through or in connection with
a publicity medium of any kind. in re-
spect to their specific legal problem,
and violators would be guilty Of pro-
fessional misconduct.
The publicizing of answers to spe-
ciflc legal questions does not carry the
relationship of attorney and client,
the lawyers believe. and they take the
position that no useful public service
is rendered, and all that results is rid
icule for the inquirer and lowering of
public respect for courts and laws.
Still more, they contend, the Good
Will Court" is broadcast on a Nation
wide N. B. C. network and Inter-City
network on the Eastern seaboard. thus
reaching a Nationwide audience. The
trouble here, thev explain, is that 48
States have 48 different kinds OF laws
on most every subject. Worst of all,
only one side Of the story is heard,
they assert.
Advocates of the court programs
take the position that they are per-
forming social and educational serv-
ice that assertedly has been offered
hundreds of unfortunates unable to
hire lawyer or uncertain what to do
next.
Lawyer objection has not been con-
fined to New York. In Cleveland, for
example, VICAR had a series of pro-
grams to be titled Scale Of Justice"
all ready for an eager sponsor until
the local bar association came along
and threatened not to support judges
for reelection if they took part.
Actual court room broadcasts, as
distinguished from the studio airings,
have often been heard on the air,
although not without stout objection
from many judges dubious about the
value Of broadcasting what happens
before the bench. Traflc Court broad
casts have been especially popular,
but they run into trouble now and
then when defendants toes get
stepped on. In the Nations Capital
one of the six court rooms In the
new Police Court Building is to be
wired so proceedings may be put on
the air, but some Of the judges are
said to have stated privately that
there will be no radio publicity from
their sanctums.