Evening star., 1941-09-12
Mcmahon 10 Start
Another Jury Court
To Speed Cases
Record Number Of 737
Demands for Jury TrioI
On Police Docket
By w. G. POLLARD.

BY w. G. POLLARD.
With what is believed to be rec
ord number of jury cases awaiting
trial and the figure rapidly increas-
ing two jury courts are to be con-
Quoted instead of one at Police Court
beginning next month.
This is in accordance with plans
announced last night by Judge John
P. Mcmahon, presiding judge of the
court. who said he intends to start
the system on his return from vaca-
ton to reduce the number of jury
cases awaiting trial
Official figures compiled two days
ago showed 1877 jury cases pending
trial. This number was destined to
be increased by scheduled vacations
of judges.
Beginning tomorrow Judge Nc
Mahon is to leave on a months va
cation. He has enspresiding in
jury court this month. For the re-
mainder of the month there is to
be no jury court conducted except
to handle persons locked up who
are awaiting trial by jury.
Another Going on Vacation.
Meanwhile, about September 20
Judge George D. Nelson is to leave
for a two-week vacation. This will
leave only two judges-Judge Wal
ter j. Casey and Judge Hobart New
man-to try cases until Judge Nelson
returns.
The next regular jury court is to
be conducted in October, with a
total of only three judges sitting on
the bench until Judge Mcmahon
returns about the 18th.
The two jury courts will, in effect,
be an answer to those who have
been in favor for sometime of the
judges being so divided as to leave
two for jury court duty.
This division, however, means
that the other branches of Police
Court must be handled by two
judges. Cases in the District of Co.
lumbia branch, the United States
branch and traffic branch must be
disposed of daily. To to this the
two judges will have to handle
three courts.
Usually, where one judge has to
handle two courts, he tries cases in
the United States and District
branches. This has been done dur
ing the summer when only three or
sometimes only two judges were at
court.
Cases Piling Up.
Just how the public is best served
is question. Judge Mcmahon feels
the two jury courts must now be
operated, for while at least, to re.
duce the number of jury cases. The
number has increased to more
than 730, from 476 as of last De-
cember 81.
Judge Nelson, the junior of the
four Police Court judges in point
Of service, has for some time favored
two judges sitting full time in jury
branch of the court. In this con-
nection he has offered to sit either
in jury court or to handle two Other
court branches to release another
judge for jury duty.
On the other side of the question
Judge Walter J. Casey doesn't think
one judge can adequately take care
of two courts, particularly on busy
days, such as Mondays. He thinks
however, two jury courts will now
be necessary to reduce the number
of jury cases.
Judge Mcmahon, in defense OF
having only one jury court in ses.
sion in the past, points out that but
few persons are still locked up while
awaiting jury trial. On the Other
hand, he indicated, defendants ir
the three other branches, other thar
jury branch, have been better served
by one judge sitting in each of the
branches.
Four Month Delays Seen.
Another side of the whole situa.
ton is presented by the prosecutors
who point out they always have 6
sufficient number of jury cases ready
to keep jury branch busy. This wa;
pointed out by Assistant Corporation
Counsel E. w. Thomas, who is ir
charge of assistant corporation
counsels at Police Court and BY
Assistant District Attorney A. j
Mclaughlin, in charge of the as
sistant district attorneys at Police
Court.
Walter F. Bramhall, clerk of tn,
court, said about 40 demands for jur!
trials are being made a week. H,
added the present total of thos,
awaiting trial is the highest in hi
recollection. With the present tota
of. jury cases, Mr.. Bramhall esti
mated, it is expected to take on al
average of about four months for ,
jury case to come to trial, from tn
time the jury trial is demanded.
With the exception of so-calle,
busy days, judges sitting in eithe
the District of Columbia, Unitet
States or traffic branches of tn,
court frequently finish court bust
ness in those branches by time of tn,
luncheon recess, after starting at II
am. or later. Sometimes, however
it takes much longer.
Judge Newman was not imme
diately available for an opinion re
garding the two judges sitting il
jury branch of the court.