Evening star., 1938-09-10
LAWS IS SWORN IN
AS DISTRICT JUDGE
Several Hundred on Hand
for Brief Rites in Which
New Justice Speaks.

In brief, simple ceremony Bolitha
J. Laws. president OF the Bar Asso-
citation of the District of Columbia,
was sworn in this morning as an as
sociate justice of the District Court
Several hundred Well-Wishers were
on hand to pay tribute to the popular
attorney who ascends the bench after
more than a quarter of a century's
practice at the bar. There was
touch of sentiment in it. for Justice
Laws told the assembly that it was in
that very courtroom. Criminal Court
No. l, that he tried his first jury case
25 years ago.
Chief Justice Alfred A. Wheat ad-
ministered the oath of office and in
loud. clear voice Mr.. Laws repeated the
words after him promising to admin
lister equal justice to rich and poor
and giving the law the best OF his
ability, as we'll as supporting the Con-
stitution Of the United States.
Heading the list Of dignitaries was
Attorney General Cummings, whom
Mr.. Laws said brought about and in
spired my appointment Secretary
Roper Of the Department OF Com
merce, Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen,
United States Attorney David A. Pine
and many others.
Cummings Presents Commission.
Seated on the bench with Chief
Justice Wheat were Associate Justices
Jennings Bailey, the only other jurist
of that court appointed by Demo-
cratic President, who received his
commission from Woodrow Wilson in
1918, Joseph w. Cox and Daniel w.
O'Donoghue. Chief Justice Wheat.
who opened the proceedings at 10
O'Clock, said that they were gathered
for the pleasant duty of welcoming a
new associate justice of the court and
Immediately recognized Attorney Gen.
eral Cummings, who said that he had
the very great privilege Of presenting
commission to Mr.. Laws from Presi-
dent Roosevelt and the Nations chief
law of1cer asked the Chief Justice to
administer the oath OF ofice.
In the hushed audience, Mr., Laws
who was seated in front of the bench
with members Of the Committee on
Admissions and Grievances, stood up
and repeated the oath.
Justice Speaks.
Attorney John L. Laskey, on behalf
OF the Committee on Admissions and
Grievances, presented to Justice Laws
a judicial gown, with the request that
he might wear it long. Col Walter c.
Clephane, another prominent member
OF the bar and associated with Mr..
Laws on the committee, placed the
robe of judicial ONCE around the new
jurist's shoulders.
Attorney Godfrey L. Munter, first
vice president of the Bar Association
of the District of Columbia. who ranks
next to Justice Laws in the lawyers
organization, on behalf of himself and
his colleagues, presented gavel, en-
blem of authority, las memorial of
your investure as a justice of this
court"
The new justice, wearing his robes
officially for the first time, then stood
up and said that while the occasion
might not be a great moment in the
life of the judiciary of the Nation, it
was in his. He remarked that it is
not considered becoming for judges to
make speeches but said he desired to
thank his well-wishers and express
regret that he was stepping from amid
the ranks of the lawyers with whom
he had so many pleasant associations.
At the conclusion Of Justice Laws brief
address, the almost unprecedent scene
was witness to loud applause breaking
forth in the courtroom and the court
nduleently smiled as this was done
Chief Justice Wheat welcomed the
new jurist and expressed the hope that
he would wear his robes for many
years. Following the ceremony, JUS
tice Laws held a reception, which was
led by the members of the bench.