Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-24
Three Judges
Urge Separate
Fan1i|yCourt
Laws, kirkland
And Tumm Hit
Archaic System

AAEcc Judges LOT the v. y.
District Court for the District
Of Columbia today urged Con-
gresS to establish a separate
Family Court in Washington to
eliminate some existing evils
and to improve the administra-
ton OF justice in domestic re-
lations cases.
Chief Judge Bolitha j. Laws,
Judge Edward A. Tamm and
Judge James r. Kirkland, testi-
flying at the opening session of
a Senate District subcommittee
hearing, described the present
system variouSly as ''frustrat-
ing" archaic" and ineffective.
They declared separate court
OF three carefully selected judges,
with full jurisdiction in domes-
tic relations litigations, could
brin gabout substantial improve
ment in the handling and dis
position of divorce, alimony, sup
port and custody cases.
TO Back Legislation.
Senator Barrett, Republican,
OF Wyoming, who conducted the
hearing as head of the judiciary
Committee. indicated that he
would support the legislation.
He said at one point:
THE major considerations, It
seems to me. are first the well
fare Of children from religious,
educational and opportunity
Standpoints. and second, rights
Of minors in financial way.
Children are the real and inno-
cent victims in most of these do
nestle relations cases.
II am hoping I can convince
the full committee to report this
bill out"
Strong Endorsements of the
measure were entered by the
District Commissioners through
their chairman. Samuel Spencer;
Edward B. Williams, an attor-
ney; Gerard NJ. Shea, director
OF the Department of Public
Welfare: Mrs. A. Carrigan
Ewell. representing the National
Council of Negro Women, and
these spokesman for religious
groups:
The Rev. Leo j. Coady, Cath
olic Charities of the District;
DR.. Frederick E. ReiSsig, execu-
tive secretary of the Washington
Federation of Churches, and
George Pikser, executive director
OF the Jewish Social Service
Agency.
Chief Justice Laws testified
that the idea of separate fam
lily court originated several years
ago with the late Chief Justice
Fred M. Vinson and has been
Endorsed repeatedly by the ju-
dicial conferences of the United
States and the District of CO.
lumbia.
Four Main Detectives.
He said the four principal OBJ
jectiveS of the proposed system
are:
/. Establish a system for at
/ tempted reconciliation between
husbands and wives engaged in
dispute.
2. Have court offices legally
empowered to investigate do
nestle relations cases, subpoena
and interview witnesses under
oath and make reports and rec
concentrations for examina ton
by the court. reserving to the
parties litigant the right to con-
test the reports and recommen-
dations as in cases of reports of
special masters.
3. Establish machinery for the
collection and disbursement of
payment of alimony and main
tenance.
4. Eliminate the evil of per-
hitting one domestic relations
case to be presented to more
than one judge, as is now pos
sible and done frequently under
the rotation of judges in the
District Court.
History Is Traced.
Judge Laws traced the history
OF the movement to modernize
the domestic relations procedure
here and said the Judges of
District Court had been frus-
trated in attempts to improve
the system. He called attention
to advantages of systems used
in other cities. notably Detroit.
(See HEARINGS. Page A-6.)
AIimony Collection