Evening star., 1940-12-12
Jackson Urges Move
For New Quarters
For District Court
Administration Of Justice
Hompered by Overctowded
Conditions, He Says

was on record as favoring the early
erection of a new home for District
Court. which is in overcrowded quar-
tiers. Mr.. Jackson addressed letter
to Henry P. Chandler. director OF
the Administrative ONCE Of the
United States Courts, saying: Il urge
you to do all that is possible to put
the machinery in action that will
provide new court house for the
judges of this Jurisdiction.
Frederic A. Delano, chairman of
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, and Chief
Justice D. Lawrence Groner of the
United States Court of Appeals, re-
ceived copies of the letter.
The Attorney General wrote: 81
understand that every foot of avail
able space has been utilized and that
the crowded conditions deprive off,
cials and their subordinates of rea-
sonable space and comfort for
healthful and efficient work. Three
District Court judges have their
courts and Offices in the Police Court
Building and recently the grand jury
has been moved there. Many i'm
portant records have had to be
moved from the clerks office to the
basement of the Juvenile Court
Building in order that extra space
be gained for the personnel and
current records.
Rooms Badly Crowded.
"A careful survey of the building
discloses that conference rooms fol
attorneys and waiting rooms for
jurors and witnesses are too small
and two few to meet the various re-
quirements of the hundreds who
enter the building each day. and as
a result of these conditions the cor
ridors and courtrooms become bad
ly crowded.
Undoubtedly the efficient admin
istration Of justice is seriously
affected by these deplorable con-
ditions. I urge you to do all that
Is possible to put the machinery in
action that will provide a new court
house for the judges of this juris-
diction.
Support Promised.
Il assure you that I shall give
all the support which I consistently
may. If the occasion arises that
you feel you need my help, please
do not hesitate to call on me-"
Recently, it has been proposed
that a new combined District Court
and United States Court of Appeals
be placed east of the Supreme Court
Building, adjacent to an Oliver
Wendell Holmes memorial Looking
to future expansion, District Court
with provisions for l8 jurists is pro.
posed. At present. judges have to
go through the corridors at District
Court in their robes, pushing
through crowds of witnesses. Jurors
and lawyers. Under the proposed
program, each jurist would have his
chambers adjacent to his court
room. A plan of long standing has
called for erection Of the new Dis
trict Court at the north end OF
Judiciary Square. after~the Genera
Accounting Once. now occupying
the old Pension once there, gets q
new building.
Thomas S. Settle, secretary. ol
the National Capital Pafk afic
Planning Commission, said the only
site oficially considered by the com
mission Is at the north end oil
judiciary Square.
This action was taken two years
ago wnen, at the request of the
President, the commission held g
conference with representatives oi
all the courts interested. the Dis.
trict attorney, the United States
marshal, the recorder of deeds. the
registrar of wills, the Bar Associ.
alton Of the District and others,
said Mr. Settle.
Unanimous Vote for Site.
"It was the unanimous vote that
the District Court should remain ir
Judiciary Square, where the old Pen
sion Office Building now stands, anc
that the United States Court of Ap-
peals and three other upper Fedora
courts should be housed in one
building in the neighborhood of the
Supreme Court"
Subsequently the President rec
commended and Congress approved
an appropriation to acquire the
property north Of the old Pension
Once Building, which now houses
the General Accounting Once, and
erect new building for the G. A. O.
The Government is now acquiring
that land.
The commission never has con-
sidered location of the District
Court in the neighborhood of the
Supreme Court Building" Mr.. Settle
said. "Of course, these are matters
which would have to be finally de-
termined by Congress and the Presi-
dent. The commission will do the
best planning job it can when it
gets definite instructions from Con-
gress."