Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-29
County Facing
Court Crisis as
Terms Expire
Montgomery Hos
No Police Judges;
New Low Blamed
BY GEORGE FLYNN

faces the prospect Of doing with
out police magistrates for As
days. unless Gov. McKeldin acts
fast to remedy an unprecedented
legislative snarl.
The county's Republican
leaders last night indicated they
would contribute nothing to I'M
raveling the situation, while the
key Democrat involved said he
was hopeful that something
can be worked out"
Here's how the crisis devel-
oped:
The terms Of the three police
magistrates and the county's
Juvenile Court Judge expired on
Sunday.
The 1855 session of the Cen
eral Assembly enacted a bill,
signed by Gov. McKeldin, Great
ing a Peoples Court of three
judges to supplant the magi-
strates, all Republicans.
The eight-year terms Of the
new judges, who will be selected
by the all-Democratic County
Council. begin on June Is.
Who will exercise the magis-
trates' roles between Sunday and
June IS?
Interim Appointments
That's the $64 question, "
State Senator Edward S. North
rop said today. The Senator, a
Democrat, said the Governor, a
Republican. can appoint magis-
trates for the six-week interval"
The county council will make
a stab at providing judges when
it meets in emergency session
tonight.
j. Grahame Walker said the
council probably will recommend
appointment by Gov. McKeldin
of candidates slated for the Peo-
pies Court.
But the Republican State
Central Committee for the
county, meeting last night, failed
to come up with any recon-
mendations for breaking the
deadlock.
Walter Dawson, committee
chairman. said Endorsement Of
Democrats would eliminate Re-
publicans holding those posi-
TONS"
I'VE have endeavored." he
said, Ito get Republicans to take
these positions for the 45-day
period, but we have been unable
to md any one who would in
terrupt his practice for such a
short time"
In a resolution unanimously
approved. the committee re-
minded the Governor 1t had
urged him to veto the bill
creating the Peoples Court.
Council Farley Suggested
The committee. smarting from
the Governors rejection Of its
candidate for q Circuit Court
judgeship as well as its loss of
the patronage for magistrates
posts, suggested that the Cover
nor work out the snarl with the
all-Democratic County Council
and the Democratic State Cen
trail Committee.
The committee had pushed the
candidacy of r. Duncan Clark.
a magistrate, for the Circuit
Court vacancy, but last week
Gov. McKeldin named Mrs.
Kathryn Lawlor to the post.
The combination Of events set
off the sharpest open split to
date between Gov. McKeldin and
the Montgomery County Repub-
Iican leaders. Their GOODNESS
stems from the 1852 State con-
vention, when Gov. McKeldin
led Maryland into the Essen
hover camp, while the Mont
gomery County G. O. P. was
pushing Senator Taft for the
presidential candidacy.
Confirmation Fails
Gov. McKeldin reappointed
the incumbent magistrates ear
lier this year, but the nominees
failed to win approval of the
State Senate, as required by law,
when Senator Northrop held up
confirmation.
Senator Northrop said today
he was fearful Of the hiatus"
that has developed but had been
assured by the Maryland At
torney General the bill would not
create such a snarl.
1.-THE bill was prepared by the
county delegation in the House
Of Delegates and checked pretty
thoroughly by the County Bar
Association" he said. With these
assurances, he blocked the re-
appointment Of the Republican
magistrates. he said.
In addition to Mr.. Clark, other
magistrates are Oscar See, Philip
Fairbank and Alfred B. Moves,
who serves as Juvenile Court
Judge.
The Democrats have made no
recommendations to the County
Council on the newly created
judgeships, but the names Of
Samuel Gordon, John Diamond
and Einar B. Christensen have
been most prominently men
toned for the posts.