Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-15
Committee Family Court
100000 Plans Advocates Draft
Fund for Bridge New Arguments
Witnesses Before
Subcommittee Find
Some Skepticism


A group of judges and spokes-
men for lay organizations were
marshaling new arguments to-
day to convince Congress it
should establish a special domes-
tic relations court in Washington.
Sponors of the family court
bill learned during a House Dis
trict subcommittee hearing yes
terday that some Representatives
are skeptical about various of it's
provisions. Accordingly, they
resolved to meet objections with
additional evidence when the
hearing is resumed at 2 pm. to-
morrow.
Chief Judge Bolitha j. Laws of
the U. S. District Court for the
District of Columbia was the
lead-off witness and principal
advocate of separate court yes
GcI Ody.
The idea also was Endorsed by
the Board of Commissioners
through its president, Commits
sioner Samuel Spencer.
All detectives of the bill were
lauded by Attorney William E.
Leahy, chairman of the Citizens
Advisory Council. But the net
effect of his statement appeared
to bolster a suggestion that Con-
gress add a domestic relations
branch to Municipal Court rather
than create a separate tribunal.
Concerned Over Costs
Mr.. Leahy explained that.
while he favored the detectives
with emphasis, he was con-
cerned over the prospect of add
ing a new burden on District
taxpayers through the cost of
another court. He told the sub
committee. headed by Repre-
sentative Harris. Democrat. of
Arkansas that Municipal Court
is equipped, prepared and quail
fed to take over domestic rela-
tions work.
At present, all domestic re-
lations litigation is handled by
the District Court.
The bill under study would
establish a family court of three
judges, appointed by the Presi-
dent. They would be concerned
solely with domestic relations
cases, thus relieving District
Court of heavy responsibilities.
The staff of the special tri-
bunal would include a domestic
relations commissioner, empoW-
cred to conduct investigations for
the court, take testimony Of
witnesses, file findings Of fact
and conclusions of law, and
make recommendations to the
Judges. This is a position of
authority not now possible in
District Court.
Extensive Backing
The legislation enjoys i'm
pressive backing. Among sup
porters are all judges of District
Court, members of the U. S.
Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia, the Judicial Con-
ference and at least 81 local civic
and church groups.
1t also faces potent opposition.
The District Bar Association is
on record against it. The Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations
opposes establishment of sep
arate court.
A similar bill was approved
last year by the Senate, but the
House took no action.
! Judge Laws based his plea for
the family court on four prin-
cipal points:
/. In divorce actions the bill
aims to reduce bitter family con-
troversies which inflict perma-
nent injury upon litigants. and
especially their children. Where
possible, reconciliation would be
effected through the domestic
relations commissioner.
, 2. The proposed court could
obtain complete information en-
abling judges to arrive at sound
decisions in custody cases and
when they order payments for
maintenance. Judges now usual
ly lack all the facts needed
and cannot get the whole truth
to reach fair decisions.
3. The bill would permit the
establishment of a system to in
sure the prompt payment of ali
mony and temporary mainte-
nance. The court would have a
staff to collect and disburse
these payments. BY using a note
teller procedure the staff would
know Immediately when a liti-
CANT became delinquent and
would take steps to correct the
situation. This is impossible at
present.
4. The Family Court would
eliminate q ''inSurmountab BILE
problem" now existing. This per-
tains to the rigid District Court
procedure of rotating judges
from one type of case to an
other.
Judge Laws testified that he
and his associates have tried for
many years, but the best they
could do within rulings of the
Court of Appeals was to adopt
a voluntary" procedure.
Sees Place for Lawyers
Representative O'Hara, Re-
publican, of Minnesota expressed
fear the proposed court would
make the Government the guard
ian of a lot of families. He