Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-28
Plan 10 Reduce
Virginia Courts
Draws Protests
Nearby Areas Point
To Heavy Increase
Of Judicial Work
BY ALEX r. PRESTON.

ny ALEA N. fnES1ON,
The extent to which nearby vir-
GINA areas would be affected ~ q
proposed reduction of State judicial
circuits is being studied today
by lawyers and court officials of
Arlington and Fairfax Counties and
Alexandria.
These three Metropolitan Areas of
Washington would be Influenced
more than any other sections II
the proposals are carried out by
the General Assembly after it con-
venes January 8, according to the
consensus of those interviewed.
A special legislative committee
studying administration of justice
proposed to Gov Darden a reduction
'of court circuits throughout the
State from IS to g. A reshuffling of
circuits embracing Arlington and
Fairfax Counties and Alexandria has
been recommended despite action
taken at the last regular session Of
the Legislature designed to alleviate
the burden of work thrown into
these courts due to phenomenal pop
ulatlon growths in recent years,
notably since the 1910 census.
Puzzled by One Provision.
The new report, filed Wednesday,
includes draft of a bill specifically
abolishing the Circuit Courts now
established in nine cities, including
Alexandria, and transfers their juris-
dictions to the Corporation Courts.
Judge William P. Woolls is the pres
ent Corporation Court judge in
Alexandria.
Another provision. however, has
the legal profession puzzled. The
commission has proposed the estab-
lishment of 10th judicial circuit"
which would embrace Alexandria
and Arlington County, apparently
at odds with the section designed to
abolish the Circuit Court in Alex
andria.
Elsewhere. however, the report
provides that the Circuit Court
judge would serve as ex-officio judge
of the Alexandria Corporation
Court
| At the request of the Arlington
County Bar Association, the General
Assembly in 1914 broke down the
10th judicial circuit, embracing Ar
lington, Fairfax. and Prince William
Counties and Alexandria, so as to
exclude Arlington, which was estab-
lished as a new jurisdiction-the
35th circuit. Judge Walter T. Nc
Carthy, who formerly had the old
18th, now is judge of the 35th and
Judge Paul Brown of Fairfax has
the presently constituted 10th.
Places Fairfax in 9Th.
The latest commission report pro-
poses to place Fairfax in a new cir
cult, designated the 9Th, which
. would include Prince William, Stat
| ford, Fauquier and Loudoun Coun-
l ties.
Court Clerk Thomas P. Chapman,
jr., of Fairfax expressed concern at
the proposed expansion of the
> courts area. He pointed out that
while Alexandria would be dropped
by the plan, most of the judicial
work of that city has been carried
by the Corporation Court and that
the added burden thrown on the
proposed 10th circuit judge by the
addition of the other r-fiung coun-
ties would more than outweigh any
saving of court labor in Alexandria.
Such a change would be serious"
Mr.. Chapman said. THE judge now
has all he can handle, and if press
reports are correct, it does not seem
to be practical for this section"
While the proposed new circuits
were based on populations averag-
ing 100, 900, Mr.. Chapman said there
are at least 10000 inhabitants in
the five counties suggested for a
10th circuit
Other Population Growths.
In Arlington and Alexandria this
population growth is even more dis
proportionate, based on best avail
able estimates. Arlington Commits
sioner of Revenue Harry K. Green
says there are easily $4,000 inhabit-
ants In that county alone. Other
; estimates for both Arlington and
| Alexandria run in excess of 200 600
, inhabitants, based on ration book
, issuances.
Arlington Circuit Court Clerk H.
! Bruce Green said that to add an
area to the circuit comprising al
most as many people as we now have
: is far from equitable"
: George Damn, member of the
J House of Delegates from Arlington.
reserved direct comment on the re-
: port pending further study but,
having in mind the previous es-
Enlistment of Arlington's separate
!, circuit, he said he would oppose fur
: ther enlargement, with consequent
> increase of the courts burden.
] President John P. Strauss of ths
Alexandria Bar Association ex-
pressed interest in the plan and said
it would be discussed at the next
/ association meeting.