Evening star., 1949-03-05
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More Judges for Back Morgan as

VIS1IIVI VVQII
Laws Says Load of
Cases Here Among
Heaviest in U. 5.
Three new judges would be
added to District Court here, un-
der a bill introduced in the House
by Representative Celler, Demo-
crat. of New York.
The measure, which was re-
ferred to the House Judiciary
Committee, of which Mr. Celler
is chairman. would increase the
number of jurists on the District
bench from IL to Is.
Hearings on series of bills for
new judicial posts throughout the.
Nation, including Washington,
will open at 10 am. Monday be-
fore a House Judiciary, Subcom-
mittee, headed by Representative
Byrne, Democrat. of New York
The hearings will continue for
some time, but it was uncertain
when the District bill will be con-
Sidered.
The Celler measure would au-
thorize the President to nomi-
nate three additional judges for
District Court. They would be
subject to consideration by the
Senate Judiciary Committee and
confirmation by the Senate.
Laws Stresses Need.
The bill was introduced yester-
day. At the same time, Chief
Judge Bolitha j. Laws of District
Court issued a statement empha-
sizing the necessity for the addi-
tional jurists. He said the court
here had about the heaviest load
of cases of any Federal jurisdic-
ton in the country.
Because of pressure of new and
important business" Judge Laws
said, "the District Court has
reached a point where it requires
new Judges.
"In 1945, civil jury trials were
being reached within three months
after issue. and nonjury cases,
within five months The criminal
docket was in less favorable state,
but was not seriously behind.
Big Case Load Increase.
"Since that time, the case load
in our court has increased tre-
mendously. Other than domestic
relations cases (Which sometimes
require only short trial time +,
since 1945. the cases FLED per
year increased from 6,O23 to 6,836,
a difference of 1853. Many of these
are cases of national Importance.
The result has been trials of
civil cases have been greatly de-
layed in being reached Today,
civil jury cases are not reached
until about 13 months after issue.
civil nonjury cases, about Is
months after issue.
while our criminal calendar is
current, our situation in regard
to civil cases has moved from one
of the best in the Nation to one
of the worst.
"Statistically. our court has
about the heaviest load of cases
of any Federal Court in the Ma
ton.
In view of the situation, the
judges of our court directed nc
to request the authorization of
new judges"
Department Approves Bill.
The Celler bill was introduced,
it was learned. with the approval
by the Justice Department.
Meanwhile. on the Senate side
of the Capital, bills are pending
to increase the number of judges
in both the Municipal Court and
United States Court of Appeals.
Chairman McCarran of the
Senate Judiciary Committee has
introduced bill to add three
more Judges to the Municipal
Court. 1t has been referred to
the Senate District Committee.
Senator McCarran also has
pending, before his own commit
tee, an omnibus bill adding judges
to many Jurisdictions throughout
the country. including the District.
It would add two judges to the
Court of Appeals here. increasing
the number to eight.
Hearings on this big bill have
not yet been scheduled. But it
is believed consideration is being
given to holding hearings while
witnesses are in Washington for
hearings opening Monday before
the House Judiciary Subcommit-
tee on the similar bills there to
increase the number of Federal
jurists in other parts of the Ma
tinr