An interesting and thought-provoking correspondence signed by United States Supreme Court Chief Justice William Howard Taft. No doubt employing both executive and judicial ideals—Taft, of course, is the only person ever to hold office as both President (1909-1913) and Chief Justice (1921-1930)—the-statesman turned-jurist explains the need for judicial reform. A bold, black fountain pen “Wm. H. Taft” inscription signs the two-page letter, which was typed on Supreme Court of the United States letterhead. The message, dated May 5, 1927, is addressed to Judge Ewing Cockrell of New York City and reads: “As I understand it, you and your colleagues of a preliminary committee expect to organize an Association to promote improvement in the administration of justice, both civil and criminal, but especially the latter, with a view to its dispatch without lack of careful deliberation. I am very much interested in the success of such a movement. The delays in the administration of the criminal and civil law are due primarily to the failure of Legislatures to advise themselves of the need for additional legislation to enable the courts to use executive business methods in meeting the demand properly made upon them by litigants. We have a great many Judges. We have a large and rapidly increasing amount of business. The work of the Judges has been a ‘go-as-you-please’ system. There should be in each State system of courts and in each city system of courts an executive head or council, with power to mass the judicial force you have at points where arrears threaten unjust delay. There are States that are waking up to the necessity of doing something along this line. There are places where an advance system has been established. An organization that will investigate what has been done in this matter and present the result of that investigation in a form which shall make it available for the reading of the legislators all over the country must inevitably lead to practical reforms that would mean a vast improvement in the effectiveness of our courts of justice. In the judicial work that a Judge does on the Bench, he must be independent, but in the disposition of his time and the cases he is to hear, he should be subject to a judicial council that makes him a cog in the machine and makes him work with all the others to dispose of the business which courts are organized to do. I sincerely hope that in your disinterested efforts you may find competent persons the country over who will help you to organize such a movement and thus ring to bear upon the forty-eight Legislature and Congress a knowledge of the possibilities of real reform.” So as to preserve the delicate sheets, each 7.75 x 10.5 page is adhered to a more durable backing. In good condition, with intersecting mailing folds, toning, soiling, and staining, and each sheet glued at edges to sheets of Judge Cockrell’s stationery. JSA/John Reznikoff Auction LOA and RRAuction COA.
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