Evening star., 1938-03-06
GROUP APPOINTED
TO STUDY HOUSING:
OF DISTRICT COURT
Action Delayed on Plan to
Consolidate Activities in
Police Building.
COMMITTEE OF FIVE
NAMED AFTER PARLEY
Head of Bar Association Will Move
to Get Early Action to
Relieve Congestion.

uulItiIleIlL3 OI lIle DlSITlCG NUuTC was
planned yesterday by the Commission
ers as they deferred action on the
Bar Association proposal that all crim-
inal court activities be housed in the
new Police Court Building.
Appointment of committee of five
to make the studies was announced at
the end of a two-hour conference OF a
score Of officials and association
spokesmen when it became apparent a
final conclusion could not be reached
without comprehensive data on space
needs and the effects of possible hous-
ing consolidation moves.
? The space survey is to be conducted
by David Lynn, architect of the Cap
itol. who has charge of all construction
projects for the District Court
Thomas e. Lodge, chairman of the
Bar Association committee on the con-
solidation plan; Municipal Architect
Nathan c, Wyeth; Walter F. Bram-
hall, chief clerk of Police Court. and
John G. Conliff. jr., chief clerk of the
District attorneys Office.
Suggested by Bar.
Transfer of the criminal court work
of the District Court to the new Police
Court Building. after it is opened
March Is, was suggested by spokesmen
for the Bar Association as a means of
speeding trials by preventing wasted
time. and affording immediate relief
to congestion in the old court house.
Regardless of any immediate steps
that might be found possible, En-
gineer Commissioner Dan I. Sultan
said after the conference he believed
the ultimate solution of the space
problem would have to be the con-
struction of a large new courthouse
IN Judiciary Square.
Such building. suggested for the
site of the old Pension Office Building.
now housing the General Accounting
Once. already has been envisioned by
District officials and others in con-
templated future development plans.
To Seek Early Action.
Bolitha j. Laws, president of the
Bar Association. announced plans to
seek early action on the criminal
court move, which he said was urgent
ly needed to bring immediate relief
He said the question would be brought
before the association membership
Tuesday. He coupled the need for
additional justices for the District
Court with plans for better housing
for its trial courts.
Col. sultan explained that all at
tending the conference were in sym-
pathy with proposals to speed admin
lstration of justice but that discussion
revolved principally around question
OF what space is available. what COM
blnations of quarters would produce
best results and whether new court
rooms could be provided in the Dis
trict Courthouse. possibly by construc-
ton of an annex.
There are eight courtrooms in the
new Police Court Building, in addition
to space for the district attorneys
assistants and the representatives of
the corporation counsel There now
are but four Police Court judges but
the need Of one additional Judge has
been cited by some District officials.
Proposals for an increase in the num-
Der of District Court justices also
have been made to congressional COM
mittees.
Future Expansion.
The extra courtrooms were pro-
vided to care for future expansion of
the courts activities. However, Col.
Sultan said the Commissioners would
not close the door" to other court
activities if they were convinced it was
necessary in the interest of admins
tration of justice.
Delay in the final action on the Bar
Association plan leaves somewhat un-
settled other arrangements for the
space not now required for the Police
Court. The Commissioners have
tentatively allotted one of the court
rooms and judges chambers for the
use OF the grand jury. This was done
at the request of Leslie c. Garnett,
former District attorney.
1t was indicated that if two or
three criminal courts from the Dis
trict Courthouse are moved to the
new Police Court Building, there
might not be sufficient space for the
grand jury or the staff of the District
attorney.
Among those who attended the con-
ference were Chief Justice Wheat of
District Court, Presiding Judge John
P. Mcmahon of Police Court, Dis
trlct Attorney David A. Pine, Corpo-
ration Counsel Elwood H. Seal, Mr..
Laws, E. Barrett Prettyman, Roger
j. Whiteford, Mr.. Lodge, John Town.
send. Percy Marshall and Joseph C..
McGarraghy of the Bar Association; !;
Maj. Daniel j. Donovan, District audi
tor; Mr.. Lynn, August Eccard, civil
engineer of the Capitol; Mr.. Wyeth