Evening star., 1941-04-09
New Bar Committee
To Review System
OF Admissions
Action on Old Report
In Prospect Also on
Pre-leeoI Education

The present system for investigat-
ing the character of applicants for
admission to the District bar was
described as "woefully inadequate"
last night at the regular meeting
of the Bar Association of the Dis
trict.
John Pratt. chairman of the Legal
Education Committee of the asso-
ciation's Junior section, urged adop-
ton of report by his group recon-
mending a revision of the investi-
CATION system and the subject mat
ter of entrance examinations.
Mr.. Pratt, addressing a meeting
in Wardman Park Hotel, declared
that the inadequacy of the charac-
ter investigations is resulting in the
admittance of hundreds of attorneys
not known to the examiners and
that "the misdeeds of a few are de-
grading the profession in the eyes
of the public"
He insisted that the association
take some action on a report sub
mitted by his committee IS months
ago The report also suggested the
entrance examinations are too long
and should be brought up-to-date as
to subject matter included.
Calls for Report.
The association voted to instruct
Francis w. Hill, jr., president, to
appoint special committee to study
the question and report back as
soon as possible, possibly to the
May meeting.
Mr.. Pratt urged adoption of a sys-
tenn now in operation in Pennsyl-
vania under which candidates regis
ter when they first take up their law
studies and are subject to supervi-
sion by members of the bar.
1t was agreed that the whole
question of bar admissions, includ-
ing recommendations for the extent
of pre-legal education, would be
taken up by the new committee.
The lawyers adopted a report by
Chairman Michael j. Lane of the
Juvenile Court Committee urging
the employment of 10 additional
probation officers in the court and
the esta blishment of a psychiatric
clinic This clinic could be op-
Grated, 1t was said with the medical
aid of the United States Public
Health Service without cost to the
District government.
The association was told that the
present staff of five probation Off
GERS was inadequate to handle the
work of the court.
Valance Reports.
William Roy Valance, secretary
general of the Inter American Bar
Association, reported on the first
pan-American conference of the
newly formed organization at Ha-
vana March 24-27. He told of steps
which are being taken for the uni
f1cation of laws in the Americas.
particularly those regarding bills of
exchange, checks. taxation, patents.
copyrights, credits, judgments and
capital investments. Such unifca-
ton, he said, should help to remove
trade barriers between the coun-
tries Of this hemisphere.
Various aspects of military law
were described by Col. r. Granville
Munson of the Judge advocate gen.
erals office. The speaker expressed
the opinion that "as millions of
young men are entering the armed
services. attorneys will find 1t more
and more necessary to study mill
tary law"
Col. Munson described the scope
and importance of military law as
distinguished from martial law"
and went into some detail about
simplif1ed court-martial procedure
whereby courts-martial have been
cut to less than half despite the
fact that the Army is expanding.
From stories you've heard you may
think the Army courts are hard
boiled. Yet our emphasis is on pre-
vention instead of punishment.
American System Used.
Company commanders are now
disposing of many cases which used
to be referred to courts-martial."
He added there is no military caste
in this country and Army law is
interpreted under the American
system of Justice. Even in time of
war. he said. the courts showed a
tendency to leniency.
John K. Cunningham. chairman
of the Junior Bar section. presided
at the meeting which was turned
over to the younger members of the
association.
Appointment of the following
Nominating Committee was an
nounced: Maurice D. Rosenburg,
Mr.. Lane. Paul Hannah, George P.
Hoover, Seton Darr. Harryman
Dorsey and Myron Ehrlich.