Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-16
President Interested
In Judicial Reports Plan

Isuls
proposal, when Judge does not
retire at 10 and the Judicial
Conference certifies the need for
another judge. the President
would be authorized to appoint
Jan additional judge. When the
Judge over 10 either dies or re-
tires. the vacancy thus created
would not be filled.
First Comment on Proposed
This budget message is the
first time the President has COM
Imented officially on the proposal
for periodic addresses to Con-
'lgress by the Chief Justice. His
comment. which appears in a
section of the message devoted
ito "other major proposals for
Legislation on which l recon-
mend that the Congress take ac-
tion during the present session, .
follows:
Although it is not within my
. province to make any recon-
, mendation. l am deeply inter-
ested in the suggestion which
has been made that the Congress
should consider inviting the
Chief Justice of the United
States to address the Congress
annually on the work of the
judiciary and to present the
recommendations of the Judicial
Conference"
2 Jurists Originated Idea
; The proposal for periodic adj
dresses by the Chief Justice was
first publicly advanced in Nov
ember. 1854. by Deputy Attorney
General William P. Rogers. The
idea originated within the judici-
AIRY itself. It's authors were the
late Chief Judge Harold M
! Stephens of the Court of Appeals
for the Third Circuit.
Both jurists expressed belief
: that the judiciary needs q
|, spokesman who would make
. known the needs of the court:
: to Congress ard the people.
, After Mr.. Rogers speech. let.
, tiers of Endorsement poured II
, from leaders of the bench anC
! bar all over the country. AS soor
as Congress went into session il
January, 1855, resolutions were
introduced in both houses TX
= provide for the address periodi'
: cally.
Testimony Favored Plan
A Senate judiciary subcom-
: mittee held hearings on the pro-
posal early in February. 1855
, The testimony was overwhelm'
, ingly in favor of the resolution
: Witness after witness empha'
sized crowded court dockets, in
creasing backlogs of cases, un'
derstaffed courts. inadequate APP
preparations. delayed action or
proposals for improvement in tht
administration of justice anG
delayed justice.
: Action in both houses was post
, poned indefinitely, however. A
the time, there were those VIII,
: thought Chief Justice Warner
+ might want to become a candi
5 date for President, although M
: had repeatedly stated that h
, had no intention of doing SO I
was also a time when Southern
: Democrats were angry with tin
/ Supreme Court. Some contendet
| such an address would breal
down the principle of separation
| of powers arising from the Con
, stitution. although others pointed
out repeatedly that the Chic
/ Justice already reports to Con
: gress-in writing.
Proposal Revived
The proposal was revived re
Gently when the executive com
mittee of the Attorney General
Conference on Court Congestion
, and Delays in Litigation in 1t
.. first report recommended tina
, Congress invite the Chief justice
, to appear personally before ;
Joint session at the beginning o
every Congress to report on be
half of the Judicial Conferenc,
ION pending urgent requirement
of the Federal courts and on long
, range programs to meet futur,
needs before they become cri
teal"
1T is essential" said the groul
of jurists and lawyers. that tn,
courts be provided with a spokes
man to make known to Congress
directly and effectively recon
mendations which will advanc,
the proper administration of jus
| tice and which are therefore o
common concern"