Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-28
Judge Fay Bent|ey's
Illness May Prevent
Her Return 10 Bench

HOW long JupeIllle court may re-
main without the services of per-
manent judge appeared uncertain
today, in the face of increasing
doubt that Judge Fay Bentley ever
will be able to return to the bench.
Judge Bentley has been absent
from court because OF illness since
early in November Municipal
Court Judge Walter J. Casey, who
has been acting in her place, will
be replaced in that capacity Feb
ruary Z by Judge Nadine Gallagher
of the same court.
Judge Bentley entered St. Eliza
beths Hospital recently as a volun-
tary patient.
Judge Bentley some time ago UNI
derment an operation on her spine
as the result of a traffic accident,
but there is no connection between
her current illness and the opera
ton, The Star was told.
She was taken to st. Elizabeths
about six weeks ago, the same au-
thority said, adding that since that
time there has been. no apJarent
improvement in hersconditioIk
Not Expected to Return.
A source at Juvenile Court said
little hope existed smoqf officers
there that the Judge would be able
to resume the bench.
The Juvenile Court judge is ap-
pointed by the President. subject to
confirmation by the Senate. Judge
Bentleys third six-year term began
in the summer of 1916. The salary
for that office Is $4,000.
The District Code empowers the
chief judge of District court to des-
ienate a Municipal Court Judge to
fill in during absences of the Juve-
nile judge, but the latter Is not I'M
der jurisdiction of either District
or Municipal Court.
The code provides no time limit
for such substitutions.
Judge Bentleys position is SUBJ
ject to the Federal Retirement Act.
Thus she, a relative or a friend
legally constituted to act for her
may apply to the Civil Service Com
mission for a disability retirement.
No Time Limit in Law.
There apparently is no limitation,
however, on the time an executive
of her status may take away from
his post because of illness.
Chief Judge George P. Barse of
Municipal Court said yesterday the
court can i'll afford to spare the
services of one of its judges. He
maintains his court could keep three
or four additional judges busy.
He said replacement Of Judge
Casey as acting juvenile jurist was
in keeping with the system of ro-
tating assignments at Municipal
Court.
Officers of Juvenile Court report
that the work there is being kept
current, although there sometimes
are as many as 10 or 80 matters
heard in one court day, and proba-
ton officers carry case loads far
above normal.
Case Studies Increase.
Court hearings totaled 9,406 in
1913, compared with $500 in 1947
and 1882 in 1916. Two court days
week are devoted to juvenile
hearings and two to adult hearings.
In addition, two or three days a
month are given over to jury trials.
In the juvenile department, work.
ers are carrying between IS and Is
new social studies a month in addi-
ton to supervision of 40 to so pro-
bationers. In accepted practice,
court officers reported, a worker per-
forming either of these jobs would
be considered handling heavy load.
In the adult department, the case
load is about $50 per worker per
month, when the standard is rs.
A case usually is not heard for
three or four weeks after an offense
is committed, pending investigation
sA Il