Evening star., 1942-02-27
D. {. Judicial parIey
Hears Speakers
Urge Changes

Coll for judiciary and
Bor to Serve in Wor
Effort Also Voiced
4 The Third judicial Conference,
meeting today at the United States
Court of Appeals in its effort to dis
cover new ways and means to i'm
prove the administration of justice
in the National Capital, heard
call to arms for the judiciary and
the bar to aid in the war effort.
Edmund r. Beckwith Of New York,
an Army captain in the last war.
Judge advocate general of the New
York (State) Guard and chairman
of the American Bar Associations
special Committee on National De-
fense, addressing the conference, de-
clared that "the time has come to
bring to bear upon the familiar
issues a new and consolidated power,
a newly effective and conscientious
determination, which will enlarge
the faith Of the people in the
processes of freedom without which
freedom must die"
Justice David A. Pine of District
Court presided during the morning
session today, at which e. Barrett
Prettyman, president of the Bar As
ISOLATION of the District Of Colum-
bia, declared that over q year ago q
Committee on Selective Service was
named by the former president.
Francis w. Hill, jr.. and has done
magnificent work"
Law Schools In Peril.
A tribute to the democratic spirit
Of the selective service system in
the District was paid by spokesmen
for the colored lawyers.
Associate Justice Wiley Rutledge
Of the United States Court of Ap-
peals said that If the war continued
for five years, I'VE will have de-
stroyed or disrupted the bar of the
future" He said that lawyers are
essential to defense, but because of
the war, the Nations system Of legal
education is being impaired. Next
year some of our law schools are
going to fold up and others be re-
duced to mere skeleton organiza-
tions." he added.
Mr.. Hill said that his association
was the first to appoint committee
on national defense. of which
Jerome F. Barnard is chairman.
Mr.. Hill observed that students of
the law are considered non-essential
in the war effort and should be sent
into the service. though other stu
dents are being deferred.
Panel Discussion Held.
Edward B. Beale, member Of the
Board of Managers and former sec
retary of the American Patent Law
Association. also spoke this morning
on Subjects Of Interest to Patent
Lawyers Practicing Before the
Courts In This Jurisdiction"
A panel discussion, participated in
by Associate Justices Justin Miller
and Rutledge of the appellate
tribunal and Justices Jesse c. Adkins
and Bolitha j. Laws of District
Court. was concerned with this sub
ject: THE Presentation Of Cases in
Trial and Appellate Courts"
This afternoons session was given
over to discussion on "Administra-
tive Law in Its Relation to the
Courts of the District of Columbia"
under auspices of the District Bar
Association and the Federal Bar
Association. Justice James w. Morris
Of District Court was slated to con-
duct an open discussion on the sub
ject. Presiding officer was to be
Associate Justice Fred M. Vinson of
the Appellate Court.
Curran Urges Changes.
United States Attorney Edward M.
Curran, presenting the report yes
terday afternoon for the Committee
on Criminal Procedure, advocated q
short and simple form of indict-
ment: suggested that the accused
might waive indictment and 60 to
trial Immediately under an informa-
ton issued by the district attorney,
but pointed out that there may be
constitutional objections to this un-
der the Fifth Amendment: recon-
mended that the accused is entitled
to counsel Immediately upon his ar
rest; said that the fewer the rules
the better; advocated that pleas.
motions and demurrers be abolished
and that one motion to dismiss be
substituted, although the motion to
suppress evidence would be pre-
served; urged that the plea of nolo
contendere (no defense) be abol-
ished; advocated the establishing In
the District of Columbia of official
court reporters so that the defend
ant, as well as the Government,
might have the benefit of the off,
cial transcript; opposed pending
legislation that would permit the
Government to comment on the
failure of a defendant to take the
witness stand, and urged that where
the defense is alibi or insanity the
Government must be notified in ad-
vance.
The Supreme Court, through its
Advisory Committee, is now working
on suggested new set of criminal
rules for the Federal courts, similar
to those adopted in recent years for
the civil tribunals. Each judicial
circuit has q committee that makes
suggestions, and this Mr.. Curran's
committee has done. Serving with
him on the committee were Joseph
B. keenan,, Lawrence Koenigsberger,
William E. Leahy, Seth Richardson,