Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-08-21
A Necessary Chance


Committee on Relations with the
Municipal Court adopted a resolution
last week which deserves to be
brought to the attention of those
who are interested in simplifying
the processes of justice so that all
persons, rich and poor alike, may
stand on an equal footing before the
law.
During recent months important
steps have been taken in the direc-
ton of undermining the Districts jul
dicial machinery. A Small Claims
Court was established and has
proved eminently successful; the
United States District Court has
adopted new rules of procedure
which are expected to expedite the
trial of cases by eliminating many of
the old legalistic formalities, and in
the past few weeks the judges of the
Municipal Court have approved in
principle certain changes in pro-
cedure of the Landlord and Tenant
Court which should prove of sub
stantial benefit to those involved in
litigation in that busy tribunal.
There is, however, one further
change in the procedure of the Land
lord and Tenant Court which ought
to be made, but which has not yet
been approved by the judges.
Because of limited space, landlord
and tenant matters are heard at $50
am. in the Small Claims courtroom,
the latter tribunal opening at 1890
o'clock. That means that only an
hour or less each court day can be
devoted to the landlord and tenant
cases, of which there are some 1000
a month. To correct that obviously
inequitable situation until such a
time as the new Municipal Court
Building with its additional space
is ready for occupancy, it has been
proposed that landlord and tenant
matters be heard at o'clock, after
the small claims business has been
disposed of.
In considering this proposed
change in time, the Bar Associations
committee pointed out that it would
work a considerable inconvenience
to lawyers accustomed to handling
their trial work in the mornings and
fhniy. nffno xr1nrl ~, tho "a
Despite this objection, however, a
majority of the committee took cog
nizance of the fact that tire
mendous improvement would I'M
doubtedly result" in the administra-
ton of justice in landlord and ten
ant proceedings by changing the
trial time, and voted to approve the
change on the ground that the law
yerS as matter of public service
should be and will be willing to
suffer whatever inconvenience may
result from the change and to accept
that inconvenience in the public
good"
That same unselfsh sentiment was
voiced by Seton Darr, president of
the Bar Association, who, in recon-
mending that the change be made,
called attention to the fact that such
organizations as the Washington
Housing Association, the League of
Women Voters and the Family Serv-
ice Association-al organizations
having experience with landlord and
tenant problems-are among the
vigorous proponents of the afternoon
court time.
In withholding favorable action on
this recommendation, the judges of
the Municipal Court have advanced
no reason why the landlord and ten
ant cases should not be heard in the
afternoons until such time as the
new court building becomes avail
able. Before making any final de-
cision, it is to be hoped that they will
give earnest consideration to the
views of the lawyers and other pub
lic-spirited citizens who believe that
the welfare of the thousands Of
financially distressed persons who
must use the facilities of the court
should be considered ahead of any
inconvenience, regardless Of upon
whom it may fall.