Evening star., 1948-02-29
Thot Is the Verdict on
Appellate Courts
H. M. Stephens {
By WilIiom A. MiIIen

The newly named chief justice ol
the United States Court Of Appeals
here. Harold Montelle Stephens, !,
known as q judges Judge and q
lawyers Judge"
The keynotes of his life are hard
work and humanitarianism. For he
stands ever ready to help the de-
serving. particularly the young.
A charming, kindly. friendly man
Justice Stephens Is Of medium
height, has dark brown hair
q high forehead, a rather long, mar
row face and blue eyes. He is 81
years old, but carries his age very
well indeed. He has an excellent
sense of humor and his integrity is
beyond reproach.
He has an inquisitive mind and
If he encounters 9 subject about
which he knows little, he will delve
into 1t deeply and master 1t. He is
deemed q middle of the road,
modest man.
Cherishes Medal of Merit
Sprung from Mayfiower and Rev
olutionary War stock, he is America
In epitome. For his father was
born In Maine, he himself is q
native Of Crete, Nebr., where he was
born March 6, 1886, but at the age
of az years he went with his par
ents to Utah. There he was brought
up in Salt Lake City. He attended
the University of Utah, Cornell,
Harvard and the University of Cali
fornia. After he obtained his law
degree he practiced in Salt Lake
City *and Los Angeles. In middle
life, he went to Harvard and OBJ
tanned his degree of doctor Of jurid-
ical science in 1882. Georgetown
University gave him an honorary
doctor OF laws degree in 1899.
One Of Judge Stephens most
cherished possessions is the Medal
of Merit, the highest award given a
for wartime service. Presi-
dent Truman gave it to him for his
service as American
chairman of the Joint Committee
on Interchange of Patent Rights
and Information with Great Brit
ain for mutual aid in the prosecu-
ton of World War II. He carried
on this work while continuing his
duties on the bench.
This citation reads: Through
Justice Stephens leadership, ability
industry, patience and tact. his ef-
forts resulted In an important con-
tribution to the war and production
program, to the maintenance of
good will between the United States
and Great Britain and to the sup
port and satisfaction OF the owners
Of patent rights and unpatented
information"
He came to Washington in 1888.
He had been about II years ip pri-
vate law practice in the West,
;erved term as assistant prosecut-
ng attorney in Salt Lake County
md a four-year term as judge of
he Third Judicial District Court
n Utah. President Roosevelt named
lim Assistant Attorney General of
he United States. At the Justice
he was in charge of
he Antitrust Division. There he
,uilt up the organization from
tan of some 10 attorneys to about
Is, under the then Attorney Cen
raj Homer S. Cummings. Later,
he jurist became the assistant to
he Attorney General.
Attended Cabinet Sessions
A few times when Mr.. Cummings
vas absent from washington, Judge
stephens sat in on cabinet meetings
md came to know President RooSe-
'elt personally. On numerous oc-
asions he was acting Attorney
General when Mr.. Cummings was
nut of the city. In those days
legislation, such as the
National Recovery Act and the Ag-
icultural Adjustment Act, was very
much in the public mind and Judge
stephens had q major part in its
administration.
He argued numerous cases for
he Government in the Supreme
,ourt. Included in these were the
hot oil" cases, which banned the
transportation of illegal oil in inter-
tate commerce; the first Railroad
retirement Act, Federal Trade
and Interstate Com
,erce Commission cases as we'll as