Evening star., 1949-12-13
An Argument for Appointing
More Negro Judges

An Argument for Appointing
More Negro Judges
To the Editor OF The Star:
The recent legislation increasing the num-
ber Of judges on the Federal bench by six
and the subsequent act increasing the num-
ber Of judges on the Municipal bench
by three serve to point up q glaring in
equality in the local administration of justice
as 1t affects the colored citizenry.
AS President Of the National Bar Associa-
ton, representing more than 900 of the
Nations 1900 lawyers of color, I wish to
make some observations of the local judiciary
as it affects the Negro lawyer, which local
situation is a fair sample of the situation
nationally.
have been member of the local bar
for 20 years. When I first came to the bar.
there were 19 members Of the local judiciary
in all Courts. At that time there were two
women members. one Jewish member and
one Negro member. I have seen that num-
ber exactly double. There are now SO men,
bers. excluding the three yet to be appointed
to the Municipal Court. There are now
four women on the benches of the various
courts. four Jewish members, but still only
one Negro. do not have the statistics as
to the Catholic representation, but I am
positive that there has been corresponding,
If not larger, increase of that minority.
Determinations Struck Down.
The Supreme Court time and time again
has struck down as discriminatory the
systematic exclusion of Negroes from petit
and grand juries, observing that it was Just
as vicious to Systematically exclude them by
custom, as it was to exclude them by statute.
The same reasoning which condemns the
practice Of the systematic exclusion of per-
sons from the juries> would seem as equally
off
judiciary itself.
The local situation is due very largely to
the illiberal and discriminatory policies of
the District Of Columbia Bar Association
which excludes from its membership Negro
lawyers. I never have known the District
Bar Association to endorse Negro attorney
for judgeship here, save perhaps in one
instance. for the place traditionally held by
q Negro. ~s -'-
The Washington Bar Association. COM
posed Of the colored lawyers of the city, has
for the past Is years waged fight in vain
against this system. It has sought unsuc-
cessfully to have colored person appointed
to one OF the recent vacancies in the District
Court and the United States Appellate Court.
Because OF the obvious inequity in the pres
ent situation. the Washington Bar Associa-
ton has urged that at least two OF the
present three vacancies in the Municipal
Court be filled by colored appointees.
The distressing information persists, how
ever. that no colored appointments will be
made to the newly created positions.
It is not gainsaid by anyone that there
are qualified Negro attorneys who would
make capable and outstanding judges
A Matter of Civil Rights.
In the present moral climate. with both
the national and International emphasis on
civil rights it would seem that at least here
1y- 1al &r;4
would demonstrate our faith in the demo-
cratic process by having a completely in
tegrated judiciary. 1t would also have the
effect OF increasing the respect of one third
OF our local citizenry in the, impartial ad-
ministration Of justice.
The President and Attorney General Nc
Grath could give executive implementation
to their oft-expressed espousal of the civil
rights issue by such appointments.
Such judicial appointments also would
have tendency to integrate Negroes gen.
orally in our courts. With the possible ex-
ception Of the District of Columbia Gov
ernment, our courts have the worst record
for integration of qualified colored employees
OF any governmental agency in Washington.
Except for a few file clerks, there are no
Negro clerks in either the District Court or
the Appellate Courts, either United States or
Municipal. In the probation office of the
01ot1ACI NouIG tIleIe Is not q, single negro
probation officer, although we are constantly
reminded that more than 70 per cent of the
business Of the criminal courts affects colored
persons. The judges Of the District Court
never have appointed Negro to the Com
mittee on Admissions and Grievances and
never have appointed Negro on the Jury
Commission, although they have been urged
to do so for many years.
I have written thus at length, because I
believe that fair minded people of our city
will insist that justice must begin in the
courthouses. THURMAN L. DODSON
President, National Bar Association.
Argues Against Suppressing
Publications of Other Nations
To the Editor of The Star
news item in the Sunday Star of De-
cember II, puts the responsibility for ban
ming the Soviet Information Bulletin from
the District Public Schools, according to the
statement of Superintendent Corning, on
the Board Of Education. Only publications
on the Boards approved list are permitted
in the SCHOOLS. But that news items gave
no information on how the list was COM
piled and how it is revised. No doubt the
Members OF the Board with the advice Of
school administrators are using their best