Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-18
|AppeaIsCourt
Cuts Recess 70
Tighten Docket
District Bench Will
Stick to Scheduled
October Opening


lcutors to try cases throughout
the summer months in Federal
courts with congested dockets.
The justice Department has
been concerned by case backlogs
which stretch from two to four
years in some courts. In a re-
Icent move to speed up the adj
Iministration Of justice, the At
|torney General held q confer
ence of leading lawyers and
Judges throughout the Nation
to discuss means Of getting cases
to trial and disposition faster.
In the District, this is the stu
alton:
Chief Judge Henry w. Edger-
ton Of the Court of Appeals said
ibis full court will start hearing
cases September 10. nearly a
month ahead Of the usual fall
lopening Of the appellate court,
He said his court was practically
abreast of its docket now and
1--WE want to get an early start
ION cases ready in the fall"
Explained Carefully
Chief Judge Bolitha j. Laws
lsaid the question of more extern
sive summer work and an earlier
return in the fall had been Tex
Iplored very carefully" by the
judges and leading members OF
the bar and it had been decided
that such moves would retard
rather than advance the docket.
He said the judges worked dur
ling the summer on cases taken
under advisenent earlier and
would not be able to, do so If
They were in court.
An exchange Of letters between
deputy Attorney General VIII
liam p. Rogers and Chief Judge
John Biggs, jr., of the Third
Circuit. made public by the JUS
tice Department, noted that
summer sessions have been
scheduled by Federal District
Courts throughout Pennsylvania
and by all divisions of the New
York State Supreme Court with
congestion of court dockets.
I'VE recognize the practical
difficulties of holding court in
July and August in many in
stances, " wrote Mr.. Rogers to
Judge Biggs, Who heads the
Judicial Conference COMMITTEES
studying Federal court delays.
However, it you would be kind
enough to convey our offer to
ltry cases during the Forthcoming
months to the. chief judges Of
courts where you believe excess
Isive delays exist, I am confident
that some good would undoubt-
Iedly come of it.
Study Labor Day Opening
/ Mr.. Rogers said that serious
consideration might be given to
Ireopening courts in all districts
ION a, full-time schedule imme-
diately after Labor Day.
Certainly this is an area in
which substantial inroads into
1.-THE laws delay could promptly
be made with attending bene-
fits to all concerned" Mr.. Rogers
added.
1 In District Court here, accord
ing to Assignment Commissioner
Richard L. Collins, civil jury
eases are 20 months behind and
civil non-jury cases are IL
months behind. Criminal cases
are current.
Mr.. Collins said a ''lot OF
cases" won't come on for trial
because the full court is sitting
only two weeks longer. He said
during the summer only emer-
Igency cases will be tried in addi-
Ition to criminal trials in July
and September. He said pre-
trial sessions are held during the
summer only if necessary and
lit has been decided that pre-
trials will not be necessary this
summer. The court is sched-
Iuled to resume full operation
1.-THE first Tuesday in October.
i District Court Judge Matthew
IF. Mcclure, whoi heads the
courts committee on accelera-
ltion of the calendar, said Dis
itrict Court does not lay of in
1.-THE summer, that the admin
Istrative work and routine of the
court goes on and that it is q
working recess" He compared
this system with the Court OF
Appeals which adjourns during
the summer.
Less Than Month
Judge Laws said the District
Court judges actually take les.
than a months vacation, al.
Though they are not on the
bench all the rest Of the time
He said he did not think the
judges can carry more than they
are doing now. He added that
the judges "conscientiously feel
that more summer work would
not aid the calendar.
Judge Edgerton said the prece.
dent-making decision to start
the fall term early in the appel
; late court had been made be.
cause considerably larger mum.
Der Of cases than in any previous
year was filed during the past
appellate term.
He said by the time the court
ladjourns at the end Of this
month. all criminal cases then
! ready will be heard as well as the
civil cases that have been adj
vanced for hearing by statute
or by court agreement.
n ALI the administrative agency
! cases that we're ready by June
is will be heard, he added. and
! only about is civil cases will be