Evening star., 1940-07-01

Justice Is Stressed
As Municipal Court
Building Is Dedicated
Solicitor General BiddIe,
Justice Aukum and
Others Are Speakers

Washington S new 81 $50 900 Munic-
ipal Court Building was dedicated
today to the further administration
OF justice for the poor man and to
the perpetuation of American ideals
In world where force is rampant.
Solicitor General Francis Biddle
and five other speakers emphasized
these points at the exercises attend
ed by approximately 300 persons,
gathered in cleaning walnut
paneled courtroom on the second
floor Of the building on Judiciary
Square.
I'm these perilous times" said the
Solicitor General, 'in which democ-
racy is being fundamentally tested,
the impartial and efficient admins
tration of justice becomes peculiarly
vital.
Every court in the land is, there
fore, charged with a heavy respon-
slbility and plays a vital part in
making democracy work. The Mu-
nicipal Court merits the confidence
which we have reposed in it, for we
know that it will do its part in the
great task of the administration of
justice"
Judge Aukam Is Greeted.
Presiding Judge George C. Aukam,
who was given rousing ovation as
he rose to speak from the flower
bedecked bench, told the gathering
which included leading members of
the District bench and bar from all
courts, that the municipal tribunal,
from its inception, has been a
poor mans court" However, he
emphasized that the court is a
superior" tribunal in the sense that
1t is where the large body of citi-
zens litigate.
Francis w. Hill, jr., president of
the District Bar Association, paid
high tribute to Judge Aukam's serv-
ice at the court since its founding
in 1909.
-Four points stressed by Seton
Darr, past president of the District
Bar Association, included simplified
procedure and informal proceedings
in the small claims branch, the re-
duction of court costs in the land
lord and tenant branch, the free
legal aid given by the bar asso-
citation to court litigants and the
'humanizing" of proceedings in the
latter branch.
Other speakers included Henry L.
Johnson. jr, president of the Wash
ington Bar Association, and Mrs
Burnita S. Matthews, past president
of the Women's Bar Association
Harlan Wood, chairman of the Dis
trict Bar Associations Committee on
Relations With Municipal Court
presided.
Other Judges Introduced.
Other members of the Municipal
Court bench introduced to the gath
ering were Judges Nathan Cayton
Robert E. Mattingly, Ellne K. Raedy
and Almond w. Scott.
Miss Helene Gilliaert, accom-.
panied by the Marine Corps Banc
Orchestra, sang THE Star Spanglec
| Banner" and America" The Rev
Frederick B. Harris pronounced the
invocation and the Rev. Francis E
Lucey, regent of Georgetown Law
School, the benediction.
The building, which has 10 court
rooms and is similar in design te
the nearby Police Court Building
faces Fourth street NV. between
E and F streets. Coral rose marble
lines the walls of the corridors, and
fixtures are of aluminium. Spacious
quarters are provided for the judges
and include tile showers.
The new building meets a long
felt need for housing the court
which now has moved from its old
quaSters, at 467 c street NV. Rec
ords were moved over the week end