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posing of the cases on the calendar. In New York City we have no trial lawyers who specialize in pleading before courts and juries. The congestion of cases on the calendars of the New York courts can best be dealt with, in my judgment, by developing at the bar a group of specialists in forensic advocacy. This will be very difficult, as every young lawyer wishes to figure as a leader of the bar, at least in the presence of his client, and dislikes to be completely obliterated by a big wig with whom he is associated." Criminology
The Governor of New York has ap pointed the three members of the Board of Examiners of Feeble-Minded Criminals and Other Defectives created by the Bush sterilization act, which passed the last session of the legislature. The ex aminers are empowered to examine into the mental and physical condition, the record and family history of the feeble minded, epileptic, criminal and other defective inmates of state institutions, and one of its members is authorized to perform such operation as shall be decided by the board to be most effective. Only criminals convicted of such offenses as convince the board that they are subject to "confirmed criminal tendencies" come within the operation of the law. The Indiana State Reformatory is about to establish a psychological labora tory. A laboratory for the psychological study of the inmates has been in exis tence in New York State at the Bedford Reformatory for Women for over a year. Thanks to the generosity of certain private citizens who have provided land and buildings and funds, the work of the department is to be extended. The object of the superintendent, Miss Kath arine Bement Davis, is to make a psy chological examination of every criminal
after conviction, but before sentence, which will enable the court to know pretty definitely whether the criminal is mentally defective, is capable of reform, or is apparently incorrigible, so that the court may sentence him to the proper institution. Miscellaneous
Nineteen lawyers have been disbarred in New York City, borough of Man hattan, since the first of the year, and the cases of thirty-three more are before referees appointed by the Appelate Division of the Supreme Court. More than 200 complaints against other law yers have been filed with the counsel for the grievance committee of the New York City Bar Association, some of which have been acted upon. New rules for equity practice in the federal courts will be promulgated by the Supreme Court of the United States when that body reconvenes in October. It is believed that the new rules will be almost of a revolutionary character and will materially expedite business in the courts. Chief Justice White made up his mind soon after he became the head of the Court that this revision would be undertaken, and while the judicial de partment and the executive department are absolutely independent each of the other, it is well known that President Taft not only has encouraged the re vision but has been helpful in more ways than one as the work has progressed. The Eighteenth Annual Convention of the Commercial Law League of America was held in Colorado Springs, July 23-25. The address of welcome was delivered by Governor John F. Shafroth of Colorado, and the annual address by Hon. Rosseau A. Burch, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
