Show tr r What the Bar Could Do I 0 f fV WHEN JHEN V THEN the legislature is not in session W there is ever and anon discussion about S th the we weakness kness of the Utah criminal laws and nd the need for strengthening the tile judiciary Then when hen the state assembly convenes and there is the opportunity of enacting much needed legislation to protect soci society ty a against crime rime the agitation for reforms dies out and andL L virtually nothing is accomplished f minded High leaders of the bar are willing willing will will- willI I ing to foster foster better criminal legislation but it itis is noticeable that they do not effect a strong C organization and work strenuously to put across changes when the legislature is in session This is not idle criticism it is a statement state state- ment of fact made in the hope that it may arouse the attorneys to get together on ona a a real realand realand and comprehensive program of reform of the Utah criminal code rode and then actively push their heir proposals before the next assembly Some Som leaders leader of the California bar striving striving in ing for action rather than mere words have I started some genuine reforms For one thing the bar association obtained passage of a bill bilt that gives the lawyers self-government self enabling ena ena- bling the bar association itself to oust crooked unethical shysters from its ranks The flie first thing Billing the state bar association did in launching a cleanup following passage of this thi's bill was to kick out two vo attorneys because they connived connived connived con con- at a fraud upon the court in representing that a client who had jumped his bail was in prison when in fact he lie was at liberty That little trick obtained a return of in posted posted posted post post- ed bond money This just illustrates one form of effective action that could be taken by bythe the Utah bar The public should expect the best minds of the legal profession to work out corrections in iii tile the court system Every day of the yea year lawyers la see the breakdown of justice through the workings of bad laws They owe pwe it to society to urge the passage of reform measures measures measures measures' meas meas- ures ures' before the legislature Naturally the shysters who make a business of finding loop loopholes holes in the law cannot be expected to favor strong stronger r criminal laws But there is a ama ania- ma ma- majority of the bar conscientiously desiring better bet bet- fer ter protection for the public against criminals It Itis is to this class that Utah should look for help when the next legislature convenes convenes But reforms cannot be drawn up and put across overnight The flie leaders of the state bar aL should be working right now flOW on on ona a program program program pro pro- gram of corrective legislation to to be recommended L mended to the 1929 assembly |