Evening star., 1939-09-12
Pre-Tria| Procedure
Outlined 10 Lawyers
By JusticeL Laws
Cooperation Is Asked
To Copitolize on
Potential Benefits

The courtroom of Justice Bohtha
J. Laws Of District Court today be-
came school for lawyers eager to
learn details Of the new pre-trial
procedure, designed to narrow down
the issues in civil cases, which on
cially becomes effective here on
Monday.
More than $50 persons crowded
the courtroom In the new Police
Court Building to hear Justice Laws
talk. His audience included court
attaches as well as attorneys.
Justice Laws, close student of
the subject, who has watched its
workings at first hand in Detroit,
Mich, and Boston, Mass, this morn
ing delivered q specially prepared
lecture on pre-trial work Inas-
much as he has been designated by
the court as the jurist who will have
charge Of this new field in District
Court, his words took on added i'm
portance.
Thorough Preparation Urged.
The cooperation of the lawyers
in pre- trial work was asked by the
jurist, who urged thorough prepara-
ton of cases and promised that
cases pre-tried, to winnow out non-
essentials. would be promptly tried
thereafter in the regular court pro-
cedure. The time for making
amendments in the papers is at the
pre-trial. he told his audience, ex-
planning that between September l8
and October 2, when the full court
officially convenes, half a dozen
judges would be ready to take up the
cases which have been pre-digested
in the pre-trial round table discus
sions and the issues stripped Of su-
perf1uities.
Jurists in other jurisdictions have
made inquiry about the details of
the pre-trial program here. Justice
Laws asserted, and this work in the
National Capital will be closely fol-
lowed elsewhere.
Counsel must be fair with the
calendar" Justice Laws told his
hearers, explaining that not all
cases may be pre-tried.
Gratified by Co Operation.
Justice Laws expressed gratifica-
ton over the cooperation received
from the Bar Association Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia-of which he is a
former president-and from other
lawyers in Washington. Walter M.
Bastian was chairman Of special
pre-trial committee of the associa-
ton.
trials are to clarity issues Of
case. so that at the actual trial
immaterial and collateral issues do
not become the central theme of the
litigation Justice Laws said today.
Sketching the program as it is ex-
pected to work out here. Justice
Laws said typist will be present In
court at the pre-trial hearing and
the presiding judge will dictate a
pre-trial report, which will include
brief statement Of the nature of
the case and statement with ref
erence to any stipulations or agree
ments made. The name of the at
torneys authorized to act will be in
serted in the trial order, said
Justice Laws, and if the pre-trial
judge finds occasion to make any
remarks or recommendation for use
Of the trial justice, he will insert
those in the report. After the pre-
trial order has been signed by the
Judge. it will be turned over to the
assignment commissioner, who will
have it certified to the ready-for-
trial calendar, the jurist explained
Copies to Go to Counsel.
In the District, said Justice Laws,
an effort will be made to furnish q
copy of the pre- trial order to each
counsel interested in the case. In
nearly all the cases. the trial Judge
will be different one from the pre-
trial jurist, he declared. Hence
forth, the assignment commissioner,
heretofore under jurisdiction of the
motions justice of the District Court,
will be under the direction of the
trial justice.
ut is believed that if through 4
continuance of the fine spirit of CO.
operation which already has been
manifested between court and coun-
sci in this city, the dockets of our
court are aided, and Htigants, coun-
sci and witnesses are benefited,
contribution to the cause Of justice
will be made not only here but in
other parts of our country where
trial procedure and improve
ments in the courts are being given
consideration" Justice Laws told his
audience.