Evening star., 1950-05-10
Bar Group Votes Down
Marital Counsel Plan
In Stormy Session

Despite a last-minute appeal
from Chief Judge Bolitha j. Laws
the District Bar Association last
night refused to indorse a pro-
posal to set up a new District
Court Office with broad powers to
act in divorce cases.
In a stormy session which ended
at midnight, the thumbs-down de-
cision was conceded when only
rs members voted in favor Of an
association committees majority
report, which indorsed the pro-
posal.
The plan, drawn up by Judge
Edward A. Tamm at the request
of Judge Laws, was proposed to
meet appalling" defects which
Judge Laws said exist in the
handling of divorce cases. The
proposal would require legislation.
1t would set up Marital Affairs
Counsel, with a staff Of is, with
powers to subpoena witnesses and
take testimony under oath in cases
involving alimony or custody OF
children, and to report findings
to judges. In addition. the coun-
sci would handle collection and
disbursement of all alimony pay
ments ordered by the courts. The
plan is patterned after the widely
known friend of the court" sys-
tenn in Detroit.
Boardman Leads Attack.
Association members, who
packed the Hotel Statler's Presi-
Dental Room, voted down the
plan after an impassioned plea by
Attorney Jean Boardman, who
charged the proposal is pat
termed after a judicial betrayal"
which would place the duties of
judges "in the hands of clerks"
Attorney John Alexander spoke
in favor of the plan. Then, over
objection from a member. John
L. Laskey, association president,
read a seven-page letter from
Judge Laws appealing for support
of the proposal "in the public
welfare"
BY a vote of 1856 to 40, the mem
bers then cut off further debate
and quickly defeated the indorse-
ment motion.
Referendum on Racial Issue.
Meanwhile. a reporter learned
at the meeting that the bar group
is conducting a mail referendum
of its members on the question of
whether colored lawyers should be
admitted to the association.
The referendum, which has not
been publicized, was ordered after
filing of a petition signed by 100
members of the group. it was
learned. Ballots, sent to men,
bers last Friday, are to be re-
turned by May 20.
The ballots, officials said, asked
members merely to check whether
they favored or opposed a pro-
posed change of wording in by
laws referring to membership. If
favored, the wording would be
changed from white" to "all"
members in good standing of the
District bar.
JuriStS Guests Earlier.
Earlier, Judge Laws and all but
two of the District Court jurists
were guests of the association at
a celebration of District Court
Night" Most of the judges left
before the marital counsel pro-
posal came up.
Mr.. Boardman said he has
fought for 10 years the present
Office of the Domestic Relations
Commissioner. which makes re-
ports to the court after investi-
eating divorce cases. The report
can be barred from consideration
however. if either side in the case
objects to its use.
He contended that facts needed
by the court should be brought out
in testimony before judges, and
proposed that the court assign
a judge to sit "every day in the
week" to hear motions for tenn
porary alimony and custody. He
contended further that the plan
would not ease delays in hearing
the motions, which he said is the
greatest evil in such cases.
2,606 Cases a Year.
Mr.. Alexander stressed that the
plans goal is only to get facts to
judges which will enable them to
rule quickly on temporary awards
in the large number of divorce
cases they handle. He said 2,606
domestic relations cases were filed
last year, constituting So per cent
of all civil suits.
In his letter. Judge Laws quoted
Senator Ferguson. Republican. OF
Michigan. who at one time admin
stored the Detroit plan as a judge,
as stating it is "a pre-eminent and
outstanding success"
The chief judge pointed out that
the proposal already has the ap-
proval of the Women'S Bar Asso-
citation here and the local commit
tee of the Federal Bar Association