Evening star., 1945-04-04
Elected Judge
Plan Adopted
Mayor Reps Council
For Rejecting PIeo
For Appointed Jurist

A resolution favoring election Of
an Alexandria Juvenile Court Judge
was adopted last night by the City
Council despite statement by
Mayor William T. wilkins that such
action was "a Pearl Harbor attack
on the rights of the people" Argu-
ments in favor of an appointive
official were presented by citizens.
The resolution requests the city's
representatives in the Virginia Gen.
eral Assembly to introduce legisla-
ton separating the Juvenile and Do
mestic Relations Court from the Civil
and Police Court, with the Judge of
the former to be an elected official.
The resolution, offered by Vice
Mayor George K. Bender and Sec
onded by Thomas Hulfish, repre-
senting the first ward, was passed
despite arguments of the Parent
Teacher Council and the Committee
of 100 that authorities on juvenile
protection favor an appointive court
judge. No arguments were pre-
sented favoring the elected official.
Stump, Hellmuth Disapprove.
In addition to Mayor wilkins, the
resolution was opposed by Council
men Charles Stump and Everett
Hellmuth.
The Council'Se action reversed its
stand Of last year when resolution
was sent to the State legislators ia
voring the separation of the courts
and the appointment by the Council
of the Juvenile judge, as provided in
the State code.
At that time Delegate w. Selden
Washington introduced the bill,
which was killed when State SEN
ator Andrew w. Clarke added an
amendment to make the Office elec-
tive, change which the House Of
Delegates refused to accept.
According to representatives of
the PTA, the Committee of 100 and
members of the Bar Association who
attended last nights meeting, the
Councils action, if accepted by the
Legislature, will seriously handicap
selection of qualified juvenile
judge.
Former Delegate Maurice Rosen-
berg, who in 1888 introduced legisla-
tion making the judge of the Civil
and Police Court also the judge of
the Juvenile and Domestic Relations
Court, stated last night that he IA
vored appointment of the juvenile
judge by the City Council.
Thinks Bar Would Oppose,
| After passage of the resolution,
Frederick L. Flynn, local attorney
active In PTA affairs, said that In
his belief the Bar Association would
favor an appointed judge if its
opinion were sought.
Although he attended the meeting,
Mr.. Clarke gave no reason for his
stand at the 1914 session OF the
Legislature.
Mrs. Jameson Holway, chairman
of the PTA Juvenile Committee.
presented the argument in favor of
an appointed judge, citing recon-
mendations in a pamphlet compiled
by the Children's Bureau of the
Labor Department and the National
Prohibition Association. She said a
juvenile judge is person who re-
quires specialized training and. whose
selection should be made by those
qualified to judge applicants. She
pointed out that the Council, if it
had the power of appointment,
might draw from a wider field.
The PTA has recommended ap-
pointment of commission to study
Juvenile Court affairs whose func-
ton might include recommendation
of a candidate for juvenile judge.
The commission, Mrs. Holway stated,
should include representatives of the
Ministerial Association, the medical
profession, the Bar Association. the
PTA, the Council of Social Agencies
and the City Council.
Mrs. Edmund Stone, chairman Of
the Committee of 100, presented
similar arguments in favor of an
appointed juvenile judge.