Evening star., 1941-01-17
Traffic Judge
Rotating Plan
For D. {. Hit
Enforcement Groups
Chuirmun Fuvors
AboIishing System
picture on Page A-6.)

~ kSbuiO oiA o6O <A-o'
Washington had before it today
the advice OF one of the Nations
outstanding authorities on traffic
court procedure to abolish the sys-
tenn Of rotating the four Police
Court judges in the traffic branch
each month.
Arthur T. Vanderbilt of Newark,
N. j., chairman of the National
Committee on Traffic Law Enforce
ment, urged the step before a
luncheon at the Willard Hotel yes
terday attended by three of the
Police Court judges, civic leaders,
and, representing $4,000 District
motorists, members of the District
Advisory Board and Women,s Safe
ty Committee of the American Au-
tomobile Association, which spon-
sored the meeting.
Mr.. Vanderbilt, whose committee
recently completed an 18-month
study of traffic court procedure over
the Nation, urged that one or more
judges be assigned to the branch
permanently, but If this was not
feasible, that the terms of service
in the branch be fixed at six months
rather than one, as at present. The
terms could be heightened by mere
ly a vote of the judges, without
legislative action.
Copies to Go to Judges.
Judges John P. Mcmahon and
Walter j. Casey, who have opposed
assignment. Of single jurist to the
branch, and Judge George D. Neil
son were present and will receive
copies of Mr. Vanderbilts address.
Declaring that some judges might
be very unhappy" to be assigned
to traffic court permanently, the
speaker said this is due to the
prevalent notion that the work is
unimportant."
This notion is absolutely false"
he declared. II say this work is the
most important because it is where
the young people of our country get
their first taste of justice usually
and traffic courts should have the
best of the judges"
Saying that there is oftentimes
tremendous disparity" in SEN
tences meted out by the judges,
Mr.. Vanderbilt pointed out that
lengthening of terms would largely
obviate the possibility of defendants
having their cases postponed until a
more lenient judge was assigned to
the branch.
Cites Difference in Views.
"Some judges think going through
a red light is the arch offense," he
continued, while others think driv-
ing so miles per hour is the most
heinous crime. ." " Some think one
cocktail does not make a dangerous
driver, while another might think ii
was as bad as drinking a whole
case"
Lawyers and defendants, he point
ed out, come to know the idioSyn-
crasies of each jurist and have their
cases postponed accordingly. A test
showing the great divergence be-
! tween sentences handed out by
| judges resulted in sentences varying
from 80 days to II years on an
| identical criminal case, he said
AS long as the judges do rotate
in the traffic assignment. he urged
frequent conferences between them
to work out uniform set of
penalties.
There is peculiar notion aff1ict-
ing both lawyers and laymen," he
said, who think that a judge presid-
ing in a civil court is more valuable
than one presiding in criminal
court. Why should judge settling
civil suits be more important than
a justice who is administering the
law for the peace and order Of the
community"
Pointing out that there are many
visitors here from other cities, often
driving their automobiles, he called
on the assignment of permanent
traffic judge to serve as model
and inspiration to other cities OF
the country"
Compliments Appointive System.
He complimented Washington on
the advantage" of having its Police
Court judges appointed by the Presi-
dent and confirmed by Congress,
which rendered them unresponsive
to local political pressure"
He criticized, however, the "ex-
tension of diplomatic immunity" in
the case of traffic tickets to men,
bers of Congress, their constituents
living here, the heads of depart
ments, their secretaries, messengers
and others, comprising about nine
tenths" of the city's population.
Before each guest at the luncheon
was a resolution adopted by the 3Sth
annual meeting of the A. A. A. ad-
vocating some of the steps outlined
by Mr.. Vanderbilt. A copy of a re-
port on the A. A A. Committee on
Minor Court Systems touching on
the subject also was handed each
guest
Prior to Mr.. Vanderbilt's talk the
assembly stood for moment in
silent tribute to the late George w.
Offut, chairman of the District of
Columbia Advisory Board and a
member of the National Board of
Directors of the A. A. A. A resolu-
tion praising his services was passed.
John L. Vandegrift, chairman OF
the Advisory Board, presided and
introduced Mr.. Vanderbilt.