Evening star., 1945-11-29
Sitting
In Cell Blocks,
Hearing Is Told
Chief Justice Lows
Describes Crowded
Building Conditions
By HAROLD B. ROGERS.

BY HAROLD B. ROGERS.
Chief Justice Bolitha ]. Laws Of
District Court told the House Pub.
lie Buildings and Grounds Commit
tee today that space in the District
Courthouse is so limited that visit
ing judges sometimes have to con-
duct trials in a former cellblock
from which the bars have been
partly removed.
Testifying In behalf of the Lam
ham bill to provide a new court.
house, the jurist also charged that:
l. The present four building ia.
cilities are dangerous because pris-
oners sometimes are led through the
open courtyard, even though they
are handcuffed to United States
marshals.
2. Limitation of space has cur.
tailed the domestic relations COM
missioner's staff so sharply that
some divorce settlements have drawn
the rebuke of higher courts as be-
ing insufhciently investigated.
3. Within the past month, at least
three witnesses were '1ost" in try
ing to find the court to which they
were subpoenaed.
Use Four Buildings.
Because the court Is scattered in
four separate buildings, its work is
greatly impaired both in quality
and quantity" Justice Laws said.
1T Is imperative we have a new
building" he said, "and that we
have relief at the earliest possible
moment. Our work cannot be car
ried forward efficiently and as you
would have it done with the present
facilities"
Justice Laws told the committee
that nine District Court judges were
in the District Court Building and
three, including himself. were in
the Municipal Court Building, which
belongs to the District. The NUM-
cipality receives no rent for this
space, which has been obtained
through the grace of the District
Commissioners" he said.
A third building, also loaned by
the District, is used by the Jury
Commission and the Courts Com
mittee on Admissions and Disbar-
ments. The Juvenile Court uses the
fourth building, in which are stored
records of the District Court clerk.
Jurors "Herded."
Justice Laws also criticized Jurors
facilities as utterly appalling" and
said they were herded around like
cattle instead of human beings.
Justice Laws said he hoped criti-
cism from various organizations over
saddling the District with half the
cost of the new building and site
would not Illustrate or delay" the
courthouse project. He said the jur-
lists felt the fiscal arrangement wal
entirely reasonable"
Speaking of the divorce court dis.
. advantages, Justice Laws said the
domestic relations commissioner
was handicapped because of a short
age of investigating personnel
fault which cannot be remedied be-
cause only one room is available In
the Municipal Court Building.
4 The commissioner has been help
full in the settlement of domestic
cases, particularly where custody of
children is involved, but recently
the United States Court of Appeals
reversed the District Court in two
custody cases, the jurist said. Cir
cumstances which could have been
brought out through proper investi-
cation, we're the basis for reversal,
he added.
!, Customs Court Eyes Site.
Presiding Judge Finis j. Garrett
of the United States Court of Gus
toms and Patent Appeals, told the
committee that his court hopes to
obtain the building now used by the
: Appellate Court, when and If the
latter tribunal is housed in the pro-
posed new courthouse.
The Court Of Customs and Patent
Appeals is located in the Internal
Revenue Building, Judge Garrett
5 explained, and it would like to be
4 transferred to the Court of Appeals
Building on Judiciary Square.
The new courthouse proposed by
:, the Lanham bill would be erected or
! site now owned by the District
on Constitution avenue between
Third street and John Marshall
place NV. It would provide accom-.
y modations for both the United
: States Court for the District anc
8 the United States Court of Appeals
S The committee will resume hear.
ings on the bill at 10:30 am. to.
: morrow in the old House Ofic,
: Building.