Evening star., 1940-11-26
Judges Attack Plan
To Have One Jurist
Handle Traffic Cases
Bill Is Sharply Criticized
By Casey and Nelson;
Other Needs Cited

The question of whether one Judge
from Police Court should be as
signed only to traffic cases was be-
fore members of the Board of Trade
Traffic Committee today following
its luncheon yesterday, at which
the proposal met with sharp criti-
cism from Police Court Judges Wal
ter J. Casey and George D. Nelson
Pointing out that most of the
serious traffic violations are tried
in the jury branch of the court,
Judge Casey declared that a perma-
nent Judge in Traffic Court would
try only the comparatively minor
traffic offenses, such as parking in
fractions.
In fact" he added, I'VE now
need two additional judges-one in
Jury Court and one in Traffic Court
to dispose of the work"
Sees Another Prosecutor"
The jurist expressed fear that
removal of the present rotation sys-
TEN, ir which the four Police Court
judges sit in each of the courts
alternately, and permanent designa-
tion of one Judge to try only traffic
cases would result In the ultimate
creation of another prosecutor 'in-
stead of an impartial umpire
He appealed to the group mot to
attempt to place another prosecutor
on the bench in the robes of a
Judge"
The practice of policemen sitting
in court waiting to testify in traffic
offenses is wholly unnecessary in
speeding cases, since most defend
ants plead guilty, Judge Casey said
The Police Department needs
more men on the streets to look
for serious traffic violations" he
asserted, yet many police officers
sit hour after hour in court while
their services are needed else
where"
Nelson Urges Speedier Trials.
Judge Nelson also warned that
a permanent Traffic Court judge
might become a prosecutor special
izing in traffic cases.
What we need" he emphasized
'is the speeding up of the trial OF
major traffic offenses and the con-
centration by police on reckless, hit
and-run and drunken drivers, who
are a menace to society,"
Also urgently needed, he said, is
uniform penalties. The public
should know in advance what pen.
atty may follow violating a police
regulation, he added.
P. Y. K. Howat, chairman of the
committee, read memorandum
from Police Court Judge John P
Mcmahon describing pending legis.
lation in Congress which would pro-
vide for the permanent assignment
of one Police Court Judge to Traffic
Court and pointing out that if ont
Judge is taken away for this duty
the trial and prosecution of othel
violations will suffer.
Others Support Jurists.
Others who reaffirmed the stanc
taken by the jurists were Corpora
tion Counsel Richmond B. Keech
Walter F. Bramhall, chief clerk Of
Police Court, and w. T. Cameron
vice president of the Washington
Safety Society.
Harry s.. Wender. vice president
of the Federation OF Citizens Asso'
Citations, asked the committee tt
consider some method whereby ont
judge would sit in Traffic Court FOL
at least year, 80 that he coult
obtain a philosophy of traffic en-
forcement and education" He alst
urged the appointment of an addi'
tional judge in Jury Court.
Action on the resolution was post
poned until the next meeting Of tht
group. December Is instead of De.
cember %, as originally scheduled