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10 Panel 1 (1932)

handle is hein.journals/panelmbu10 and id is 1 raw text is: To increase the efficiency of the Grand Jury Systdft2 Th PANE A Publication Devoted to the Exchange of Views of Public Officials and Citizens in the Effort to Prevent Crime and Secure the True Administration of Justice PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF GRAND JURORS OF NEW YORK COUNTY The contributions and letters in The Panel are either credited to their authors or signed with the names or initials of their writers and the Editor assumes no responsibility for the opinions contained therein beyond expressing the views that the subjects they treat of are worthy of the attention of Grand Jurors. VOL. 10 JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 1932 NO. 1 ASSOCIATION ORGANIZING LAYMEN FOR CRIMINAL LAW REFORM By ROBERT APPLETON President, Association of Grand Jurors of New York County That laymen must take the lead in move- ments for far-reaching improvement in our law and procedure, criminal and civil, has been recognized ever since laymen steadily fought for and finally achieved the law re- forms in England from the 1830's to 1878. That laymen should actively participate in movements for criminal law reform in New York was recognized by Gov. Alfred E. Smith when he appointed five laymen as his representatives on the Crime Commission of New York State in 1926. The same prin- ciple was recognized by Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1931 when he insisted upon appointing laymen on the New York State Commission on the Administration of Jus- tice, which is now functioning. Among the difficulties in obtaining public support for the improvement of the law and procedure in New York State have been the lack of cooperation between bodies of pro- gressive lawyers on one side and civic bodies on the other, and lack of cooperation among civic bodies themselves. A number of civic organizations maintain representatives at the annual sessions of the Legislature in Albany, and many of those bodies are in favor of the same measures, but seldom or never do they unite on extensive and continuous movements for law reform. Therein has laid the failure to bring our laws and procedure up to mod- ern and common sense standards. Brings Cooperation Among Laymen With the purpose of bringing together civic organizations and the Bar for a friendly discussion of bills dealing with improve- ment in the criminal law and procedure be- fore the 1932 New York Legislature, the Association of Grand Jurors of New York County arranged a luncheon at the Hotel Mc- Alpin on January 11, 1932. Invitations were sent to those who have worked with our Association in the past against receivers of stolen goods and ambulance chasers, for the new penitentiary on Riker's Island, for the jury pooling system and for other helpful measures. . Representatives from 21 civic bodies, the New York County Lawyers Association and the Bureau of Social Hygiene attended. also private individuals. A representative of the Association of the Bar of New York City was to have been there but was unavoidably absent. Chairman Carl Brandt of the Legis- lative Committee of our Association was to have presided but was ill, and the present writer presided. The luncheon was for the purpose of sounding sentiment among laymen on the possibility of cooperation. Results were highly gratifying. Discussion was informal and necessarily brief, but the interest dis- played by both the lawyers and laymen dem- onstrated that our Association had made a start in the direction of arousing laymen. We were especially pleased to have at the table Judge Edwin L. Garvin, formerly of the Federal Bench, from the Brooklyn Cham- ber of Commerce, who recently did such good work in investigating conditions in the civil courts in Brooklyn. Two members of the Bronx Grand Jurors Association were there. Better Understanding by Laymen Practically every invitation sent out was accepted. If declined, the declination was not due to an unwillingness to take part in the affair. Most of those present were from New York County business addresses but many had residences without the county and in a sense spoke for their communities. No motions were made and no resolu- ASSOCIATION'S COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION Carl Brandt, Chairman. Frederic W. Lord. Charles L. Robinson Lionel F. Straus. James B. Taylor. Richard H. Waldo. Howard F. Whitney. Richardson Wright. tions were adopted. Nobody committed him- self or herself individually or as a speaker for others, but upon adjournment a very definite feeling prevailed that good had been accomplished in the way of bringing clearly to the attention of those influential in wide circles the need for a better understanding by laymen of the bills before the Legisla- ture dealing with criminal law and pro- cedure, and by lawyers of the attitude of laymen. Among the bills discussed were the seven proposed changes in the criminal law and procedure recommended by Judge Charles C. Nott, Jr., of the Court of General Sessions of New York County in the November- December, 1931, issue of THE PANEL; the suggestion by Prof. Lawrence P. Simpson, of New York University, in the same issue of THE PANEL, for a better regulation of the sale of securities, and the anti-slot machine bill. Opinion was not unanimous except in favor of the anti-slot machine bill and in favor of alternate jurors. No unanimity of opinion was expected. On the other hand, a greater degree of agreement than had been expected was manifest, especially among the laymen. Even if nothing else had been accom- plished the acceptance of the two bills men- tioned would have made the gathering well worth while. Unite Against Slot Machines Our Association is seldom concerned with what are ordinarily called moral questions. Its objectives are the improvement of crimi- nal law and procedure. The continued opera- tion of the five-cent, mint-vending slot ma- chines which are said to take more than twenty-five millions of dollars in Greater New York City every year is due to a defect in the present law aimed at such gambling devices. In this instance, the gambling machines appeal especially to children, some of whom become thieves as a result of their losses. Hence our Association feels that it is well (Continued on page 4)

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