Evening star., 1954-04-27
5 Counties Hit.
Maryland Bar
Primary Stand
Lawyers Attack
Resolution for
Justice Hammond
BY J. L. MichoeI

Maryland'S Bar Association to-
day faces five-county demand
that it's Executive Council re-
Scind a resolution favoring JUS
tice Hall Hammond's election to
the State Court of Appeals with
out mentioning Judge Charles
C. Marbury, his opponent in the
June % primaries.
More than $50 Montgomery,
Prince Georges. Calvert, Charles
and st. MaryS County lawyers last
night unanimously denounced
the resolution as "one- sided and
deceiving" at a meeting in the
Prince Georges Golf and Coun-
try Club.
Clarence w. Miles, president of
the State association and spon-
sor of the Hammond resolution,
made no effort to counteract
the condemnation or to stave
off last nights resolution which
also urged the association to
adopt a neutral policy.
Danger of Hot Debate.
Mr.. Miles, a Baltimore city
utilities attorney, apparently
sensed the danger of touching
off a hot county-city debate.
NJ. Hampton Magruder, veteran
Prince Georges lawyer and for
mer Baltimore District Collector
of Internal Revenue, acting as
toastmaster. did nothing to dis
courage the debate.
Last nights resolution was
offered by James H. Pugh and
seconded by Joseph B. Simp-
son jr.. both of Rockville. They
were among a large Montgom-
cry County contingent aiding
Judge Marbury's fight for a
seat on the States highest tri-
bunal.
Montgomery Leads.
Montgomery County carried
the ball for Southern Maryland
although it's voters will not bal
lot on the matter. Montgom-
cry is outside the Second Ap-
pellate Circuit which comprises
Baltimore, Hartford, Calvert,
Charles, Anne Arundel, Prince
Georges and st. Marys Counties.
Mr.. Miles, who also heads the
State Commission on Judicial
Administration, was cheered
when he announced that Judge
Stedman Prescott of Montgom-
cry County will be elected presi-
dent of the State Bar ASSocia-
ton at the organizations meet
ing in June.
Joint Sponsorship.
Last nights meeting was spon-
sored jointly. Mr.. Miles ex-
planned, by the Bar Association
and the Judicial Administration
CommiSSon to discuss some of
the problems encountered by
the bench and bar.
One of these is the proposed
constitutional amendment to be
voted on this fall, which will. if
approved, increase the number
of judges in the State. A SUBJ
committee interim report is un-
favorable, Mr.. Miles declared, to
the vicious" idea of adding to
the judiciary and thus "saddling
the people with unnecessary
cost" The amendment, he
claimed, would add a judge in
every county"
Maryland Secretary of State
John R. Reeves and State Sem
ator Louis L. Goldstein, of CAL
vert County, Democratic floor
leader, sharply attacked Mr..
Miles remarks.
Called Lobbyist"
Approval of the forward
looking" amendment, Mr.. Reeves
said, would add only six more
judges since the first and second
Eastern Shore Judicial Circuits
were excluded from the proposal.
Senator Goldstein~ termed Mr..
Miles "the best lobbyist in Mary
land"
Mrs. Kathryn j. Lawlor, a
Montgomery County Republican
Delegate and a member of the
House Judiciary Committee, said.
"The Bar Association knew
about the amendment an d
neither opposed it nor offered
any comment when it was under
consideration" Mr.. Miles did not
reply.
Former Judge William j. Nc
Williams of Anne Arundel
County, head of a subcommittee
studying orphans Court func-
tions, also drew fire from Sen
ator Goldstein when he said his
group had discussed the idea of
aboliShing orphans Courts and
transferring their work to cir
cult judges.