Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-09
BAR ASKS COURT
+. GENERALIZATION
Would Concentrate Criminal
Cases for Efficient
War on Crime.

VdSeS IOT 6IIICIenl
War on Crime.
A call to lawyers to assist the law en-.
forcement agencies in meeting local
crime problems was voiced last night
by Bolitha J. Laws. new District Bar
Association president, at a meeting in
which the association recommended
Capitalization Of all criminal prose-
cutions in the new Police Court Build
ing to promote efficiency.
Under the proposed plan the name
Of the elaborate new Police structure
would be changed to Criminal Courts
Building" and 1t would house all
criminal case activities now carried on
by the District Court as well as the
Police Court.
Mr.. Laws, who recommended the
change. disclosed that the District
Commissioners support the plan,
which calls for the removal of the dis
trict attorneys ONCE, the grand jury
and the probation Office from the Dis
trict Courthouse to the new building,
where the District Court justices hold
ing criminal court also would sit.
Sees Several Benefits.
He said the proposed arrangement
would facilitate greatly trial of crimi-
nal cases and also permit greater CO.
ordination Of the work of the District
Court and Police Court probation ON
GERS. The change, he said, would meet
the space problem presented by the
proposed appointment of three new
District Court justices, and would
remove from proximity to the civil
courts the crowds which often fill
the corridors near the criminal court
rooms.
Citing figures of the Justice Depart
ment, Mr.. Laws said Washington is
ninth from the bottom in q list of
20 cities in respect Of number and
character Of crimes committed.
Il am convinced that If An epidemic
Of disease swept over our CITY," he
continued. leading physicians would
Immediately give their services to re-
lieve the conditions. I also feel that
where grievous situation, brought
about by law breaking in involved in
this jurisdiction, our leading lawyers
will lend their assistance. According
ly, I assured the Attorney General that
the Bar Association would cooperate
with the district attorney. However,
I previously have said, cooperation is
more than good will. It requires
definite. energetic steps to be taken
along constructive lines"
He said Attorney General Cum
mings, who was made an honorary
member Of the association at last
nights meeting, had recommended
that the Bar Association work in con-
junction with the Washington Grim
inal Justice Association. He lauded
the work Of the Criminal Justice As
ISOLATION and said 1t has been q power
because Of its effective work and also
because of the interest of leading
newspaper publishers"
AAVSCNuSlVH AlU SU&kCStC0.
Urging full cooperation Of all law
enforcement agencies, Mr.. Laws said
the suggestion has been made that the
Bar Association might appoint out
standing members to prosecute GRIM
inal cases without compensation when
called upon by the district attorney.
He divulged that the Bar Associa-
ton had recommended the recent APP
pointment of District Attorney David
A. Pine and added that lit is be-
lieved q valuable service to the Dis
trict of Columbia has been accom-
plished through this appointment"
The remark was greeted with general
applause.
The association was urged to aban-
don its policy Of not recommending
individuals for judgeships and other
public Offices, and to act with celebrity
when such posts are vacated.
The address was the first by the new
president, and constituted the initial
recommendations of his administra-
ton.
Raises Admission Issue.
The highly controversial question Of
elevation Of requirements for admis-
sion to the bar was raised again by
Mr.. Laws. who said he had instructed
. new committee to study the matter
and report at an early date. The
association previously had tabled the
problem.
Notwithstanding the signing Mon
day by President Roosevelt Of the
Small Claims Court bill. the associa-
ton voted to continue for the present
its aid to INDECENT litigants in Mu-
nicipal Court until it can be de-
termined whether the small claims
branch will render the aid unneces-
sary.
Prosecution Of an appeal from the
decision February by Justice Jen-
nings Bailey Of District Court in the
bar associations suit against the
American Security & Trust Co. was
authorized. The suit was to enioin
certain work by the trust company
which the association contended
amounted to unauthorized practice Of
law.
Acts on Other Matters.
The following actions were taken in
respect Of pending legislation:
Joint resolutions to amend the Con-
stitution so Is to empower Congress
to enact national divorce and domes-
tic relations legislation, disapproved,
Bill providing for sound recording
of trials as an aid to appellate courts.
disapproved as impracticable in appel
late procedure.
Bills to increase the penalty for rob-
berry to minimum of 10 or 20 years
and maximum Of death, dssapproved
as too severe and calculated to hinder
rather than help the administration of
justice.
SERVICE WORKERS LOCAL
FOR BARGAINING