Evening star., 1950-01-24

may delay a
D mocra tic
judge baziie' caucus decision
of his denomination to the bench
for a circuit embracing the city
OF Fredericksburg. Stafford, King
George, Spotsylvania, Caroline
and Hanover Counties. A caucus
will be held within the next few
days.
The resolutions were introduced
yesterday by Delegate William j.
Gibson of Fredericksburg, who
read a 19-point statement de-
nouncing Judge Bazile for fitness,
capacity. qualifications and in
tegrity."
Bazile Denies Charges.
From his home in Hanover,
Judge Bazile branded the charges
an courageous attack, filled with
untruths and half-truths, which
he could answer when the House
Is preparing to hear him.
II have never done anything
that violates my conscience or my
Judgment as man or judge" he
said.
Judge Bazile was recognized for
years as an authority on constitu-
tional law. A law graduate of the
University of Richmond. he fin
ished first in his class and won
the senior law prize. He is SO.
Committee Fails 10 Act.
The House Courts of Justice
Committee, to which the resolu-
tions were sent, failed to act yes
terday because the measures had
, not been transmitted officially. II
is scheduled to meet again tomor-
row afternoon. however.
Friends of Judge BaziIe- IA for
,ner member of the House and
former assistant State attorney
general-were quick to brand Mr.
Gibson.s charges "scurrilous's and
said some of them were untrue.
Mr.. Gibson's blast obviously
caught the House wholly unpre-
pared. He said he wanted to reply
to an attack made on him In a
letter in a Fredericksburg news
paper from former State Senator
G. O'Conor Goolrick.
The letter dealt with MIR. Glib
sons earlier attempt to win sup
port for his law partner, S. Bern
ard Coleman of Spotsylvania
County, as a successor to Judge
Bazile.
Il believe from my own OBJ
servations, and from the express
sions of others that Judge Bazile
does not have the mental Ca
pacity or judicial stability to pre-
side over the people represent -
Delegate Gibson said.
Protest on Fee Reported.
Mr.. Gibson accused Judge
Bazile of awarding excessive fees
to attorneys. In one case, he
charged. a suit for 16,191. 40 was
instituted and the court allowed
counsel fees of $15,286.
Mr.. O'Conor Goolrick - tolo
Judge Bazile that the allowance
of such fee was outrageous and
would bring the entire bar into
disrepute," Mr.. Gibson asserted
He said Judge Bazile had allowed
his own law firm a fee of $1,000
in case 'in which the actua.
amount in controversy was only
about $780," He added that this
award was protested, but the judge
refused to change his order. His
firm cashed the court check and
made refund of $700 to the client
and filed the receipt in the court
records. Mr.. Gibson Said.
$ The delegate recalled a case in
which the judge suspended SEN
tence for Is years on condition
that the guilty party stay home
between 7 pm. and am. unless
accompanied by his wife,, never
ride private conveyance in which
sny female passenger is riding
Except a wife or child, and i'm
Posing restrictions regarding in
Innate relationships with his wife
4 Another Sentence Cited.
In another case, Mr.. Gibson as.
tErted, a sentence was suspended
Sor 20 years on defendant or
the condition that he work fol
w. E. Sherman in Spotsylvanis
County and keep out of the City
Of Fredericksburg and out of the
County of Stafford"
Delegate Frank Beazley of Bowl.
hg Green. one of those who came
70 Judge Bazile's defense, ex-
pressed surprise and pain over the
statement containing the charges
Fmany of which, to my knowledge
are untrue"
II have never seen a fairei
fudge" Mr.. Beazley said.
II am deeply hurt that such
ecurrilous accusations have beer
made against him."