Evening star., 1938-06-15
SUMMER COURT
SESSIONS URGED
D. c. Bar Association Calls
for Plan to Speed Up
Calendar.

The Bar Association Of the District
Of Columbia last night went on record
unanimously as favoring continuing
the motions court, one criminal court
and an equity court of the United
States District Court throughout the
summer in an effort to speed up the
calendar. The meeting was held at
the Mayflower Hotel.
The lawyers took this action on mo-
ton of Attorney Jean M. Boardman,
who said an investigation convinced
him that the equity court is now 10
months behind in its calendar. Mr..
Roardman called attention to the
newly installed air conditioning in
District Court, which he said he has
been informed cost the taxpayers be-
tween sl60,000 and 100000. This, he
said, would pay the salaries of a good
many judges, and the legal profess
sion owes it to the taxpayers and to
clients to speed up litigation, adding
that this program would mean each
justice would have to relinquish two
weeks of his vacation.
Bolitha ]. Laws, the associations
president, who has been nominated by
President Roosevelt as one of the
three new justices of District Court
here, received rousing ovation from
his colleagues Facetiously, he said
that, while at times he had some diff
ficulty in preserving order at the as
sociation's gatherings, he expected in
his new position to have some as
sistance in this.
President Laws reported that %
members of the organization selected
the panel of names for prospective
new Justices here to the Department
of Justice. For one associate justice
to the United States Court Of Appeals
the associations spokesmen urged that
choice be made of Abner H. Fergu-
son, F. Barrett Prettyman or Seth w.
that the three new justices for the
United States District Court be chos-
en- from this list: Charles w. Arth,
George P. Barse, Arthur P Drury, 10
~. Morgan, H. Winship Wheatley and
tBrice Clagett. The association for
mally Endorsed the choice of its officers
Nor the new judgeships.
Cites Changes.
Summarizing the recent activities of
the associations membership and laws
that affect the bench and bar here, Mr..
Laws pointed to the new Lunacy
Commission, the enlarged powers for
the Juvenile Court and the new
ySmall-claims Court. He said that the
new rules Of civil practice apparently
will become effective in September in
the absence of contrary action by
Congress.
The associations president urged
large attendance from the District at
the forthcoming convention of the
American Bar Association, to be held
in Cleveland, Ohio. the latter part of
July, and reminded the membership
that their colleague, Frank J. Hogan,
has been nominated for the preSi-
dency of the national body, and this
is now believed to be equivalent to
election. On June %, he said. the as
sociation will debate the problem Of
raising the standards for legal edu-
cation here.
The membership was advised that
q movement is afoot to raise the dues
from $l2 to SIS annually, inasmuch as
the Budget Committee reports that it
is having increased difficulty in carry
ing balanced budget. The matter,
Mr.. Laws asserted. is being given care
full attention and a concrete report is
expected soon.
! Lowry NJ Coe, chairman of the asso-
cations Spring Outing Committee,
held at the Congressional Country
Club, was given special gift in recog-
milton OF his efforts to make the affair
q success.
Rover Reports on Bylaws.
Leo A. Rover, former United States
attorney, as chairman of a committee
to consider possible changes in the
bylaws, laid before the membership
the proposals to have staggered terms
for ranking members; giving a second