Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-17
Bootwright Unit Calls
NAACP's Suits Illegal
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page
duct by lawyers and of I'M
authorized practice of law
Local commemorative attor-
neys have Jurisdiction to prose-
cute for other offenses.
The Boatwright Committee
formally The Committee on
Offenses Against the Admins
tration of Justice"-is one of
two special committees set up
by the special session of the
legislature in the summer OF
1856.
NAACP Challenges Group
The legislative act creating
the Boatwright Committee and
the validity of committee &C!
tions have been challenged by
the NAACP in a case pending
in the Virginia Supreme Court.
The NAACP has challenged the
right of the committee to sub
poena the NAACP's records and
membership lists. Some records
of the NAACP were turned over
to the committee, but others
were withheld.
In today's report the COM
mittee said it found that the
offense of "unprofessional con-
duct" has been committed by
10 NAACP lawyers in Virginia:
Victor J. Ashe of Norfolk,
Edwin C. Brown of Alexandria,
Roland D. Ealey of Richmond,
Oliver w. Hill of Richmond,
j. Hugo Madison of Norfolk,
Martin A, Martin of Richmond,
SpottSwood w. Robinson III
of Richmond. w. Hale Thomp-
son of Newport News, Samuel
w. Tucker of Emporia and
Phillip S. Walker of Newport
News.
The committee did not item
lie charges against the law
yers named, but said the Of
Tense was defined by four
canons in the canons Of pro-
fessional ethics which govern
lawyers.
Provisions Of the cited canons
say lawyers should not volun-
teer advice to bring a lawsuit,
should not stir up strife and
litigation" should not be con-
trolled by any law agency
which intervenes between client
and lawyer, and should not let
himself be connected with the
unauthorized practice Of law
by any lay agency.
Brown Belittles Report
II do not attach any sig
niflcance to the report" said
Mr.. Brown, Northern Virginia
NAACP attorney. They had
to have some report, I guess.
That's the way they started it
out, and they had to wind it
UP that way"
After being read portions Of
the report by a newsman, Mr..
Brown said he could not COM
ment fully until he had read
it in full, but added, From
what you have read, don't
think there's much good I will
be able to say about it."
He said the report contained
"a number of half-truths" and
commended they're definitely
wrong" in charges made against
the NAACP and its attorneys.
Calls Charges Fantastic"
An officer of the Arlington
NAACP branch termed the
Boatwright committees charges
quite fantastic"
"AS far as Arlington is con-
cerned, all the plaintiffs went
into the case knowing what it
was about" he said. I'VE were
very careful to explain to them
the details"
The Arlington NAACP off,
cial, who asked that his name
not be used, said the Boat
wright committee had not
talked to any of the Arlington
plaintiffs or officers Of the Ar
lington branch.
Il assume they got their in
formation from the Thomson
committee" he added.
School Suits Cited
Named by the committee as
having committed the offense
OF unauthorized practice of
law were: the NAACP, the
NAACP Legal Defense and
Educational Fund, Inc, the
Virginia State Conference of
NAACP Branches and its ex-
ecutive secretary. w. Lester
Banks of Richmond.
From testimony taken at
closed hearings and from evf-
dence gathered by It's investiga-
tors, the committee concluded
that in each of five Virginia de-
segregation lawsuits 1.-The OBJ
ject of the litigation to seek
integrated schools was deter
mined entirely by the resolu-
ton OF the board of directors
OF the NAACP adopted in New
York City on October 9, 1850.
I'm no case was the object
OF the litigation specified by the
selected clients who became
plaintiffs in the cases." the
committee said.
I'm the great majority of in
stances the plaintiffs did not
desire or realize they were to
be made parties to litigation,
and learned nothing of it until
after such litigation was COM
menced; and at no stage did
the lawyers involved discuss
with the plaintiffs their wishes
as to steps to be taken. all such
matters being determined and