Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-31
Three From Capital
Elected 10 Office
By Court Clerks
18th Annual Session
Of Federal Association
Ends With Luncheon

. Three Washington men were
among those elected to offices in the
Federal Court Clerks Association to-
day as the organization wound up
Its 18th annual convention at the
Wardman Park Hotel
Joseph w. Stewart, clerk of the
United States Court of Appeals here,
was elected one Of the two vice preSi-
dents. Willard L. Hart, clerk OF the
United States Court of Claims, and
Col. Charles E. Stewart, clerk of the
District Court, were chosen members
of the Executive Committee.
Both of these men, as members OF
the Committee on Arrangements of
the convention, have been active in
organization work of the sessions
during the last three days.
George Brodbeck of Philadelphia
was reelected president and John
w. Menzies of Cincinnati was re-
elected secretary-t treasurer.
90 Selection of City Deferred.
The other vice president elected
was Hoyt King of Chicago. The
other members of the Executive
Committee are Paul w. Rear of Nor
folk, Va; William P. Rowland OF
Philadelphia. Orrie j. SHUTTER OF
Grand Rapids, Mich.
I'll, The convention temporarily de-
ferred naming next years conven-
ton city. after deciding that unset
tied conditions" made naming now
unwise. The clerks disbanded after
luncheon to 60 to their homes.
Justice Bolitha j. Laws of the
District court last night urged the
clerks to treat plaintiffs with greater
sympathy and understanding in
order not to undermine that con-
fldence.
Justice Laws spoke at the annual
banquet of the association.
Admitting that the judge, as well
as the court clerk, too often as
sumes a role of brusqueness and
austerity, the speaker pointed out
that this manner leaves the lay
man in a state of dissatisfaction
and bewilderment.
Must Put Public at Ease.
eve must see to it," he en-
phasized, that the court lives up
to the full confidence of the public.
The judge and clerk that make the
plaintiff nervous and i'll at ease
have no place in the modern court" "
Even now, he said, many people
turn away from the court to lay
their complaints before other lay
men. He characterized this tend
ency as dangerous both for the COM
plainant and the judicial system.
Too often, the justice asserted,
the judge is too aloof and hides
behind outmoded procedure. In
order to render a just decision,
judges must keep pace with the
times, he declared.
But the picture of court procedure
isn't entirely dark, he continued. In
the past five years, he said, there
has been more progress in the
courts than at any other time.
He cited in particular the new
p rules of Federal procedure adopted
here recently which do away with
much Of the delay in clearing
dockets.
Would Reserve Experience.
Turning his attention again to
the court clerks, he urged them to
put into permanent records their
store of accumulated knowledge.
THE clerk is more than simply a
scribe" he declared. HE is career
man who often can advise the judge
on legal procedure"
Other speakers included Judge
John D. Martin of the sixth Ken
lucky circuit and Henry P. Chand-
Ter. director of the administrative
Office of the United States courts.
Among the prominent guests at
the dinner were Harold Smith, di-
rector of the budget; Judge Harold
M. Stephens of the United States
Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia; Francis w. Hill, jr., presi-
dent of the bar association of the
District, and Heber Rice, president
Of the Federal Bar Association.
George Brodbeck, president of the
association, presided, and Col.
Stewart acted as Oastmaster