Show I 1 1 Legal Delays I 1 TN N RECENT years years years' many and devious w ways ys 1 j of defeating the law have been brought to the tIie aid of those involved in infractions of the law Not the least of these is the process 0 of f delay afflicting the American judicial system tern tem which resolves criminal trials into endurance endur endur- ance tance contests Cases sometimes drag along fo for lor years before they are finally decided Not infrequently we tend hind that the time consumed consumed consumed con con- by the case in the courts is longer longeri I than Chan the time served by the principal att after atter r conviction All of of this is not calculated to increase respect for the l law w On h the contrary contrary contrary con con- it appears to be in the interest of those hose who have defied the laws enabling them hem to enjoy the advantages that a accrue crue from witnesses difficulties difficulties leaving the state and other suffered red by prosecutors when continuance continuance ance nce after tafter continuance is granted Legal delays are generally in the interest of the defendant and in SQ so far as they the guar antee him dispassionate Consideration they perhaps ire are to be justified When it becomes apparent however that they afflict the courts land and nd the prosecution with handicaps which I Imay may seriously interfere with the course of justice they are to be discouraged ed The duty of eliminating unnecessary delays rests with the courts and the legal profession The judges can help materially by refusing con continuances don don- on- on which appear to be chiefly in the interest of one side of the ca case ase e. e Similarly the legal gal profession can frown upon the practice as S one that is inimical to the interests of the profession tending as asit it it does to destroy the foundation on which the profession is founded the full and ind complete application of justice as determined by the he facts fads free of the elements of undue influence of one kind or or another Some months ago o public attention was directed to a 13 fraud of wide import After weeks of labor charges were reduced to the formality of a criminal complaint More weeks have passed and the case has not yet reached t the e stage of a a preliminary hearing Two continuances already have b been en granted and no one can tell about the future When we pond ponder r the fact that no case has run its ultimate ultimate ulti ulti- mate course until it has passed through the lower courts the district courts courts' and the supreme supreme su sUP su- su preme court the difficulties attendant upon these delays delay'S become apparent This case should not be an exception to the general run i and nd the general run of cases should not be exceptions exceptions exceptions ex ex- ex- ex to this one Each and everyone every one should s be tried tiled as as expeditiously as possible I with wl h sane reasoning regardless of results A |