SUPREME COURT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 305, 24 November 1937, Page 9

SUPREME COURT.

UNITED STATES JUDGES. WASHINGTON, Nov. 22. Judge Levitt has sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary. Committee requesting the introduction of a Bill directing tho Attorney-General to bring legal proceedings against Justice Black and also to give the Supreme Court exclusive jurisdiction to try the case. The Supreme Court rejected another petition to-day asking for a full investigation of the decision concerning Justice Black’s right to sit. It was brought by other parties. When Justice Black took his seat on the Supreme Court Bench on October 4 he listened to the presentation of a motion by Judge Levitt, who-was formerly Assistant Attorney-General, seeking to depose him on the ground that while a Senator he increased the emoluments of a Supreme Court justice, and also on the grounds that there was no vacancy on the bench. A petition by Air Kelly, after virtually duplicating the grounds of Judge Levitt’6 brief, questioned l the legality of the SumnrereMcCarrcn Act under which Justice Van Devanter retired and made way for the appointment of Justice Black. Mr . Kelly declared that Congress “had no right to pass this Act,” and that Justice Van Devanter would have to go back on the bench and Justice Black leave, it. The Supreme Court denied both petition and motion. Born in Dublin in 1868, the son of a tailor. Mr Kelly attended Boston University Law School from 1899 to 1902, when he*’ was admitted to tho Bar. Ho made an unsuccessful campaign for election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1907. Judge Levitt has been soldier of fortune, preacher, professor, corporation, lawyer, Federal' Judge, and uitility “baiter.” There was a stormy session at the Jucliciary Committee of the Senate when Justice Black’s appointment was considered, but eventually it was approved by 13 votes to 4, and confirmed by tho Senate by 63 votes to 16.