Evening star., 1954-10-30
Baltimore Stirs
Opposition Vote
On Judgeships
Montgomery Among
Counties Having
Stake in Outcome
By Gene Goodwin
Stor Sfoff correspcpdsr,


BALTIMORE. Oct. 30.-Prob-
ably the most controversial
of the nine Maryland con-
stitutional amendments to be.
voted on Tuesday are three
creating new circuit court judge
ships for Montgomery, Baltimore,
Anne Arundel. Prince Georges.
st. Marys and Garrett Counties.
Although the amendments are
well supported by both Demo-
Gratis and Republicans in the
counties affected. there has been
considerable opposition engen-
dered in populous Baltimore City.
The Baltimore Sunpapers have
editorially urged their rejection. /
and the State Commission on
Judicial Administration. q group
appointed by the Governor to
study the judiciary, has acted
similarly. e,
Proponents Of the amendments
charge the commission is domi-
mated by Baltimore lawyers. who
don't appreciate the necessity for
additional judges in the hinter-
lands. The commissions CHAIR
man Is Clarence w. Miles, Balti-
more attorney and president Of
the Baltimore Orioles Baseball
Club.
Third Montgomery Judge.
The most important of the
judgeship amendments would
provide for at least one circuit
court Judge for every county
except in the two circuits on the
Eastern Shore. 1t also would pro-
vide Montgomery and Baltimore
Counties each with a third Judge,
and Prince Georges and Anne
Arundel second one each.
The "at least one judge in
each county" clause actually
would affect only Garrett and
st. Marys. They now are in
cluded in circuits that have
fewer judges than counties and
have no hometown" judges on
their circuit bench.
The two other tudgeship
a m e n d ents were pushed
through the 1854 Legislature by.
groups who wanted third circuit
court judgeships created in
Montgomery and Baltimore
Countie and feared the overall
amendment might be defeated.
After the overall amendment
passed the 1853 Legislature, the
Executive Committee of the State
Bar Association took a stand
against it. That action has
been placed before the full as.
Sociation. ir
Backs Top Amendment.
The two separate amendments
would provide that Montgomery
and Baltimore Counties would
get their third judge, even if the
general judgeship amendment
was defeated. If the general
judgeship amendment passes
and the two separate amend
mepts also are approved, they
automatically will be invalidated.
The Montgomery County Bar
Association is supporting both
the Statewide judgeship meas
ure and the one designed spe-
officially to give Montgomery an
additional judge in an effort to
insure that one way or another
the present two judges get relief.
Both the Republican and
Democratic Parties have indi-
Gated support for the county
measure.
The Miles Commission, REFER
ring to the general judgeship
amendment as "a judge in every
pot proposal" said it seriously
doubts the need for circuit court
judges in Garrett and st. Marys.
The commission also objects to
allowing election of circuit court
judges by counties, instead Of
on the traditional circuit basis.
It calls this "a plunge in back
ward direction"
The amendment further would
clarity the power OF the Legis-
lature to increase or decrease.
by simple act. the number Of
judges in each circuit. The COM
mission objects to this. pointing
out that, although the Attorney
/ General has said he believes the
Legislature has that power now.
it has never attempted to exer-
else it.
The University Of Maryland
Law School. under the direction
of Chief Judge Bruno Of the
Court of Appeals, is now making
La Nstudy of the need for addi-
tional judges. The commission
believes the amendments should
be rejected, pending this report.
The commission does not argue
the need for third circuit court
judgeships in populous Mont
gomery and Baltimore Counties.
but it believes the amendments
has too many other evils to be