Evening star., 1955-02-04
.UrgencyCited
For Speech by
Chief Justice
House Unit Hears
Array Of Bockers
And Two Dissenters
By Miriam Gutenberg

Two ranking judges, the preSi.
dent of the American Bar AS
sociation and three members Of
Congress today strongly urged
approval of legislation to invite
the Chief Justice of the United
States to address joint session
of Congress.
A Senate Judiciary subcom-
mittee, opening hearings on
several resolutions to provide
for an annual address to Con-
gress by the Chief Justice, heard
only two dissenting voices, a
Republican Senator and a
Democratic Representative.
Witnesses favoring the reso-
luton painted picture Of
crowded court dockets, increas-
ing backlogs of cases, under
stated courts, inadequate ap-
preparations, insufficient judges.
and long-pending recommends
tions for Improvements in the
administration of justice.
Opposing witnesses called the
proposal absurd" waste of
time" and a precedent-setting
arrangement that would prompt
Cabinet members to ask to ap-
pear. too.
Arguments of Supporters.
Favorable witnesses advanced
these arguments:
l. Such an address would raise
the judiciary branch of Govern
ment to more truly co-ordi-
nate position in our government
tai scheme"
2. The Chief Justice is in an
entirely different position from
Cabinet members because the
President can speak for the
executive department but does
not speak for the judiciary.
8. There is ample precedent
for an address to a joint session,
not only because many foreign
dignitaries and American gen.
erals have addressed the Con-
gress but because a Chief Justice
did too-Chief Justice Hughes at
the 150th anniversary celebra-
ton of the Constitution.
4. Although the Chief Justice
Is required to report to Congress
on the proceedings of the Judi
cial Conference and it's legisla-
tive recommendations, Congress
members are too busy to read
the bulk of material.
5. The Judicial Conference is
overconservative in its requests
and needs a spokesman because
judges are undoubtedly the
poorest statesmen for them
selves"
6. An address by the Chief
Justice would provide a dramatic
means of informing the Con-
gress and the public of the pro-
posals of the judiciary for mod
ernizing and improving the
administration of justice.
7. Such an address is consist
ent with the intent of the Found
ing Fathers for the three
branches of Government to CO.
operate with each other.
8. There are no political impli-
cations.
Permanent Procedure Asked.
Lloyd Wright. president of the
American Bar Association, told
the subcommittee that. the asso-
cations Administration Com
mittee, which acts in emergencies
between meetings of the larger
bodies, unanimously favors a
permanent procedure for an an
nual address by the Chief JUS
tice.
Mr.. Wright said the judiciary
was removed properly from po-
litical influence and hence has
had no one to champion its re-
quirements in the halls of Con-
greSs.
Mr.. Wright declared the asso-
Citation felt that the present
delay in the disposition of civil
cases in Federal courts amount
in many instances to a denial of
justice to litigants.
He warned that in recent years
the backlog is increasing at a
higher rate. This means, he
said, that the American itigant
(See COURTS, Page A-3.)
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