Evening star., 1936-12-18
BAR HEADS BACK
POOR MANS COURT
Judge Cayton's Recommen-
dation Is Approved
in Substance.

The directors of the District Bar
Association, it was announced today,
have adopted a subcommittee report
approving in substance the recon-
mendation of Judge Nathan Cayton
for establishment of small claims
and conciliation branch of the Mu-
nicipal Court.
The subcommittee was composed of
Seton Darr, Frank Nesbit and Giles
pie Walsh.
Judge Cayton's proposal already had
received the Endorsement of the asso-
cations Municipal Court Committee.
The subcommittee report considered
the history of the Municipal Court,
established in 1909 as poor mans
court, pointing out that tremendous
increase in court business unaccom-
panied by any corresponding increase
in the number of judges has tended to
hamper the adequate trial of small
cases.
Held to Exist No Longer.
"'The Poor Mans Court" the re-
port stated, therefore. no longer ex-
lists in the District of Columbia, but in
its place We have court OF record,
bound by precedent, wherein the poor
man rubs elbows on common terms
with his more fortunate brethren,
thereby making it possible and prob
able that his comparatively insignif1-
cant problems may be CLOSED over in
the hustle and hustle of the transac-
ton of a tremendous increase in the
courts business. great deal of which
is relatively more important"
In another section, the report called
attention to the fact there is "a very
noticeable tendency" to take away
from the courts part of their regular
business and intrust it to quasi-judi-
cial boards and commissions.
There are many who think" the
report added, that this Is the result
of the failure of the bench and bar 10
be alert to changing conditions and to
adapt rules and procedure thereto.
- There has never been a time in
the history of the United States when
changes in the structure of our insti-
1ldNC cO SlNdb uAAA ~
rapid as in the past five years. " I"
Nor has there ever been a time when
the people of the United States have
been so social conscious and alive to
the necessity of protecting and pre-
serving the rights of health, happiness
and liberty of the underprivileged
Your committee feels that the
adoption of a small claims and con-
citation branch of the Municipal
Court would do much in this COM
munity to disabuse the minds of the
public in the belief that neither the
lawyers nor the judges are concerned
with the problems of the poor"
Purposes Are Set Forth.
The subcommittee then studied the
rules proposed by Judge Cayton and
approved them with minor changes.
The report set forth the following pur-
poses to be accomplished by the pro-
posed rules.
/. The elimination of as much delay
as possible in the disposition of small
claims as is compatible with the proper
administration of justice.
2-The opening wide of the doors of
the court to poor litigants, making it
possible to them, at a minimum of ex-
pense. to seek and have the aid and
assistance of justice.
3-The abolition of formal procedure
In the handling and disposition of
small claims,
4-The setting up of machinery
whereby disputes involving both small
and large claims cognizant in the Mu-
nicipal Court may be settled by con-
ciliation and arbitration rather than
by trial.
It was pointed out Is States have
passed laws establishing small claims
courts.