Attempt To Oust Judge Begins

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32274, 17 April 1970, Page 13

Attempt To Oust Judge Begins

(N.Z.P A.-Reuter—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, April 16.

Republicans and conservative Democrats in Congress today pressed a campaign to oust Justice William Douglas from the Supreme Court while, for the fourth time in a year, the Court was embroiled in bitter controversy.

Mr Gerald Ford, Republican leader in the House of Representatives, led the campaign last night with a long attack in the House on the 71-year-old judge. He alleged that the judge had accepted fees from a foundation connected with gamblers who, it was claimed,

were trying to get concessions lin Latin America.

Mr Ford also criticised Justice Douglas for a controversial book which critics say condones violence and for allowing excerpts to be printed in an eroticallyoriented magazine. Justice Douglas issued a j statement yesterday saying it was his publisher who gave permission for the excerpts from his book, “Points Of Rebellion,” to be printed in the literary magazine, “Evergreen Review,” and it was done without his knowledge. Mr Ford also charged Justice Douglas with violating Federal regulations calling for a judge to disqualify himself from a case in which he had any connection with parties involved.

In opening the drive to impeach the judge, his opponents cite the section of the United States Constitution which states that 'Federal judges “shall hold their offices during good behaviour.” Later today the critics plan to introduce a bipartisan resolution calling for the House to set up a special 12man committee to make a 90-day investigation of the allegations that Justice Douglas bad violated the stipulations of good behaviour. A group of 41 libera] Democrats, denouncing the Ford group’s move for an investigation, said: “We consider the proposed action an attack on the integrity and the independence of the United States Supreme Court.” They added: “It is obviously triggered by the defeat iof Judges Carswell and i Haynsworth.”