Evening star., 1938-10-05
PARLEY Of COURT
AND BAR URGED
Criminal Case Coordination
Advocated by Laws in
Giving Up Presidency.

Coordination of the various agen-
cies interested in criminal cases and
an early discussion of their mutual
problems were advocated by Justice
Bolitha j. Laws of District Court in
laying aside the presidency of the Bar
Association of the District last night
at the first fall meeting held at the
Mayf1ower Hotel.
Justice Laws, who turned the gavel
over to the associations first vice
president, Godfrey L. Munter. who
became the new president, rendered an
account of his stewardship as head of
the association since last January and
urged that The Bar Association might
make a substantial contribution to
the work of this Judicial Conference
(between U. S. Court of Appeals and
District Court judges here) by pre-
pairing written recommendations rep
resenting the views of active prac-
titioners."
Notes Crime Decrease.
The new jurist paid tribute to the
work of a committee, headed by Louis
G. Caldwell, that has rendered a
report on administrative practices,
told the association that Attorney
General Homer S. Cummings informed
him the organization has established
itself in the high esteem of the De-
partment of Justice; observed that
there has been a decrease in crime OF
some 35 per cent here; declared that
before many more months pass trials
of criminal cases will become what
might be termed current; pointed to
the need for new building adequately
to house the justices of District Court;
cited the congestion of civil cases, now
16 to 20 months behind, and observed
that II am not convinced that the
addition of new judges and the alert
working of the judges themselves will
provide a complete solution of con-
gested docket am convinced that
the courts must have the whole
hearted cooperation of the members
of the bar" in rendering his report.
Frank j. Hogan, new president Of
the American Bar Association. received
a special tribute in the Justices report,
and he felicitated him.
II have found judgeShip is a full
time job" said the retiring president,
speaking from first-hand acquaintance
of nearly month on the bench.
Conference Plan Action Delayed.
The association voted to defer until
its next meeting, the second Tuesday
in November, active consideration of
a proposal to have pre-trial confer
ences in the Federal courts here SINH
lar to those obtaining in Great Britain,
Boston, Los Angeles and Detroit, with
a view to getting cases at issue more
promptly and eliminating unnecessary
witnesses and generally speeding up
justice.
The organization adopted proposal
by the chairman of its Memorial
Committee, E. Hilton Jackson, to set
aside day in January as an annual
memorial day to commemorate recent
ly deceased members and also to make
a permanent printed record of the
addresses made on such occasions. AS
: Justice Laws read the names of mem
bers who have died recently. the men,
bership arose and stood in silence.
Dues Raise to Come Up.
Ralph D. Quinter of the Budget
Committee announced that a proposal
to raise the annual dues from the
present $12 to SIS will come up for
consideration at the next meeting, un-
der the bylaws. Jerome F. Barnard,
chairman of the Dinner Committee,
under the general chairman, Paul B.
Cromelin, declared that the annual
dinner will be held at the Mayflower
Hotel on December 3 and the associa-
ton later voted to present Justice
Laws with suitable testimonial OF
its esteem.
The association declined to empower
its directors to elect officers and pro-
posal to abolish the Nominating Com
mittee was beaten. Leo a.. Rover,
chairman of the Committee on Amend
ments to the Bylaws, obtained per-