George Washington University Law School Scholarly Commons

Amicus Curiae, 1956 Amicus Curiae, 1950s

12-3-1956

Amicus Curiae, December 3, 1956

Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.gwu.edu/amicus_curiae_1956

Recommended Citation George Washington University Law School, 6 Amicus Curiae 2 (1956)

This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Amicus Curiae, 1950s at Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Amicus Curiae, 1956 by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Published by the Student Bar Association AMICUS CURIAE

Vol. 6, No.2 THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL Dec. 3, 1956 Van Vleck's Death Our Moot Court Team Is Mourned by John Hogan Will Go To New York by J. C. Cherry WILLIAM CABELL VAN VLECK, The U.S. Court of Military Appeals, Charles S. Solomon, with P. Phillips Dean of the George Washington Uni- filled almost to overflowing by an esti- Connor on the brief. versity Law School for twenty-five years, mated 300 persons, was the scene of the passed away recently at Suburban Hos- The court's opinion, delivered by Mr. presentation of final arguments for the pital after a short illness. Justice Clark, was by unanimous deci- 5th. region in the National Moot Court sion for Georgetown, the defending na- A native of Washington, Dr. Van Competition held on Friday evening, tional champion. Both on presentation Vleck received his bachelor of arts de- Nov. 16. and the brief, the decision was excep- goree in 1908 and his law degree in 1n11 A distinguished court composed of tionally close, Mr. Justice Clark ob- from George Washington University. the Honorable Tom Clark, Associate served. GWU was defeated on the He received a degree of doctor of jur- Justice of the Supreme Court of the brief by a scant two points. idical science at Harvard Law School United States, presiding, and Circuit in 1921. Following the initial decision, the Justices Bazelon and Washington of the court announced GWU was the winner Court of Appeals for the District of .for the 5th. region. This too was by Columbia heard arguments by George unanimous decision. Earlier, on Nov. 5, Washington as petitioner favoring the GWU defeated Catholic University, Durham rules where criminal insanity Messrs. Connor and Coulter arguing, is in issue. The established McNaghten with Mr. Solomon on the brief, and was rules were defended by Georgetown as rated above AU and Howard after th~r respondent. elimination rounds on Nov. 12. Thus, For George Washington, oral presenta- both GWU and Georgetown will com- tion was made by George P. Coulter and pete for national honors when the final rounds are heard in New York City Twenty-Four Frosh this month. See New York page 4 Take Law Frat's Dr. Wm. C. Van Vleck Practice Exam .SBA To Publish At first set on a career of active law So that they might be better prepared practice, Dr. Van Vleck instead became for their first law school exam, Delta an instructor at George Washington Theta Phi Law Fraternity offered fresh- Student Directory Law School upon graduation. men students a unique proposition. "If you take our practice exam, we'll Dr. Van Vleck became Dean of the grade them and tell you how you can Law School in 1924, after serving as Will Be Out Soon do better when its time for the real Acting Dean the year before. His tenure thing next January," said Delta Theta as Dean saw the enrollment of the Law It i~ expected that the law school di- Phi. Twenty-four new students re- School triple before his retirement in rectory will be ready for distribution sponded. 1948. He continued his association with during the first week of December. At the Law School as a professor of law The exam contained four questions, this time the final draft has been pre- until 1954. The former dean took 8 one each on Torts, Contracts, Legal pared and the stencils are being cut. great deal of interest in the Case Club Method, and Personal Property. Par- The law school directory is a contin- which was named in his honor. ticipants were asked to answer any two. uing project of the Student Bar Asso- The papers will be graded by recent Dr. Van Vleck also served as an act- ciation, and contains the name, address, honor graduates of . ing professor of law for several sum- telephone number, and section (night mers at Michigan, Stanford and Chicago Grading will be based on ability to see or day) of every student attending the Universities. the issues, approach to the questions, law school. The committee chairman is and technique in answering, rather than Richard Kline, and Hugh Gordon is Vice See Van Vleck page 4 on the substantive law. Chairman. Page 2 AMICUS CURIAE

Magazine Asks To AMICUS C.URIAE Published under the auspices of The Reprint Cartoons Student Bar Association by the Students Earl A. Hogan, Director of the Law of the George Washington University Law School, Washington 6, D. C. Student Program of the American Bar Telephone: STerling 3-0250, Ext. 482. Association, has asked Amicus Curiae for permission to reprint in the Editor-in-Cbie] Clifton T. Hilderley Student Lawyer Journal the series of cartoons Associate Editor J. C. Cherry, Jr. t'J (jeorge Coulter, "How to Avoid Being Called on When News Editor Frederick Schmitt You Haven't Read the Case." Fraternity News. Bailin 1. Kuch preJiJenl Copy Editor George Weller The cartoons, which appeared last year Features Editor John Hogan 'in- Amicus Curiae, were conveived and Something new has been added! The Business Mana/(er Gerald E. Kiltz drawn by Charles A. Hobbs. At the Amicus Curiae "President's Corner" goes Staff: George Coulter, Joel Stearman, time, Hobbs was News Editor of Amicus to press under a new masthead. The George Wilsey, Clay Cook, George Curiae. Hobbs is presently Editor of the change in title signals the beginning of Malhoit, Reina Grant, Erica Mathur, Law Review. a complete overhaul of Amicus Curiae Walter Landry. content and format to bring you more The Student Lawyer Journal is pub- Advisor " David B. Weaver and better coverage of SBA and Law lished by the American Law Student School events. According to Editor Clif Association. Its timely articles intro- Hilderley, extra issues are in the offing duce law students to the professional this year, and they will be designed to How Little We Know problems and responsibilities they will carry more news and features, less face upon admission to the bar. Sub- It's surprising how little, most of the "history. " scription price is only $2.00 per year. But as for the SBA President's column, students in law school know about what's Find out what's going on. Subscribe to we will stilI be doing business on the going on in various activities around the Student Lawyer Journal. school. same corner, with comments on Student You can bet the first buck you're going Bar activities, and orchids where orchids to make as a lawyer that half the people are due. in law school don't know who our rep- Wanted ... Alive ... In this issue, the SBA bouquet goes resentative to the American Law Stu- to the Van Vleck Case Club and Pro- dent Association is, or who sits in on ... a few law students who want to fessor Walburn, the Club's faculty ad- the University Student Council on our join the Amicus Curiae staff. No experi- visor. behalf. ence necessary. Your job? ... write Eager to improve its program, the articles. Just drop your name in the Case Club Executive Council, President How many of you know who the Amicus Curiae mail box. Charles Atchisson and Messrs. Eglington, Treasurer of the Student Bar Associa- Kiltz, Bernstein, Stokes and Connor, tion is? He hands out the $3.50 you began work on fall activities in the deposited last September, in case you're early months of the summer, and all interested. members have been tireless in their ef- Who is Secretary of the SBA? forts in recent weeks. the Day and Night Delegates? You Semi-final arguments for the annual elected them, remember? Taps Three From Van Vleck Competition are now com- You can bet the second buck you're plete, with contestants Connor, Hobbs, going to make that someday you will The Law School Solomon and Thatcher selected to argue be talking about the great Student Bar on Law Day next spring. Association they had at GW, selected Omicron Delta Kappa, national men's The George Washington University the best of all law schools in 1955 and honorary fraternity, tapped three stu- National Moot Court Competition team, runner-up in 1956. dents from the law school during the selected from contestants who presented Why not find out what's going on intermission at the Homecoming Dance. arguments early in the semester, chalked while you're here. The men tapped were Charles Thompson, up a better than average record in the Day Vice President of the Student Bar regional rounds of the annual competi- Association; Charles Hobbs, Editor in tion, having been defeated in the final SBA Schedule Chief of the Law Review; and Lawrence round of arguments by Georgetown Uni- Wiser, ALSA Delegate of the Student versity, the defending national cham- December 3 Bar Association. The initiation was held pions in the final regional argument on Board of Governors Meeting- on November 14th. November 16. Harlan-Brewer House Omicron Delta Kappa is a service As runner-up in the regional argu- fraternity, founded in 1914. The fra- ments, the GW team will travel to New December 5 ternity selects its members on the basis York for the national final rounds in FBI or Court Tour of participation in school activities, early December. leadership in school affairs, and out- The members, officers, judges, clerks December 13 standing scholarship. and criers of the Van Vleck Case Club deserve heartiest congratulations for Professional Meeting the excellent publicity and co-ordination CIRCUIT CONVENTION of the Amer- for the fall arguments. For its achiev- First Three Weeks in December ican Law School Association will be ments to date, the club has proved itself National Moot Court Finals in New at Philadelphia in February. Plan a credit to the University, and also to York City now to go. the Student Bar Association. Dec. 3, 1956 Page 3

Finalist Chosen By Merow Selected From GW GW Law Grad Hero Case Club Wait For In Nationwide Bid In Daring Paciiic Law Day Competition For Top Law Students Airline Rescue , The Van Vleck Case Club held its James F. Merow, GWU Law School by George Weller Semifinal Competition on October 30 graduate, has recently been selected by and November 1 choosing Charles Hobbs, the Dept. of Justice for professional When a Pan American Airways Clip- Gerald .Thatcher, Phil Connor, and placement in the Department's program per recently had to ditch in the middle Charles Solomon as finalists. William to recruit top students throughout the of the Pacific Ocean a Juris Doctor graduate of the GW Law School was Beemer was chosen as an alternate. country each year from graduating law waiting to rescue the passengers and Final Competition is one of the high- classes. crew. lights of spring Law Day. Attorney General Herbert Brownell, William K. Earle, Commander, USCG, Phil Connor, speaking for himself and Jr., greeting this year's selectees, ex- plained that, "selections are made on Commanding Officer of the CGC PONT- other members of the group, noted the CHARTRAIN, graduated in October the basis of high scholastic standing, enjoyment and value in such competi- 1949 as number three in his class. He tion for the individuals involved. He outside activities such law journal work, and all around ability." In discussing came to Washington with a varied back- pointed out that a relatively small num- ground that included five tours of sea the rotational feature within the De- bel' of students avail themselves of the duty and three shore billets. opportunity to compete and that more partment, the Attorney General noted that it was designed to permit young His experience in convoys, weather competition would be good for everyone. patrol, and ice breaking, as well as his attorneys to gain experience in different various geographical stations ranging types of legal work, and to gain experi- from Europe to China and the Great , ence in fields of major interest. Lakes to Florida, gave him the pro- Recess Coming Up Since the program's inauguration, 112 fessional background necessary to make honor graduates from 47 different law Pretty soon you will be able to shove the complexities of ocean rescue quick schools have been selected, almost 90% your briefcase in the corner and forget and efficient. of whom were among the top 15% of it ... at least for a couple of weeks. Commander Earle is noted for his their class, 10% were number one. The Christmas recess is Thursday December ability to gain rapport with the offi- recruitment program has proved to be a cers and crew of his ships. His com- 20 through Wednesday January 2. rewarding both to the young attorneys mands are noted for being happy and Get your briefcase out and go back to and the Department and will be con- efficient, a difficult combination to school Thursday January 3. tinued, it was announced. achieve. The Bare Facts Show It, Law School Coeds Are Unique

The law school coed occupies a unique For a comparison of the coed popula- position :-she is surrounded by men. tion elsewhere, the Review of Legal The social advantages this offers are Education (ABA), for the year 1954 evident, and ever alert, Amicus Curiae reveals that the total number of women with date book and computer in hand, students in all categories at George set out to discover whether or no the Washington was greater than that of species law school coed has recently in- other laws schools in the metropolitan creased in number. The results: area. The percentage of women stu- Commander W. K. Earle, USCG For the 1956 fall term, women com- dents to the total enrollment fluctuated Prior to his present sea duty Com- posed about 5.9% of the total under- within fairly narrow limits, for example, mander Earle was instructor in law and graduate student registration. For the at Georgetown females numbered 2.3% was the Legal Assistance Officer at the 5 year period surveyed (1951-1956), this of all students, but at AU the percent- Coast Guard Academy in New London, percentage is higher than it has ever age was a whacking 8.5, GWU being Conn. where he presented a concentrated been. Not only this, but the percentage at about midpoint with 5.0%, for the law course to the future officers of the of women undergraduates registered in base year. In the boon-docks, the Ivy Coast Guard. He himself graduated day classes is higher than it has ever League as represented by Yale and from the Academy in 1940. been during the past five years. However, Harvard could boast only a meager The Coast Guard and GW Law School the percentage of coeds registered for 2.8% and 2.4% respectively. have had a long friendship. The present night classes has been consistently Commandant and Assistant Commandant higher than that for day school, the Summing up, current registrations of the service are GW graduates as mean percentage being 5.7 to 4.9. shows more law school coeds NOW than are almost all Coast Guard District So be it, gals are still in the minority, hithertofore. This conclusion needs no Legal Officers. Today there are six numbering but a modest 5.38% mean of comment, and the interested reader is Coast Guard officers attached to Coast all undergraduate students enrolled for referred to the Law School Directory for Guard Headquarters that are taking the period studied. additional and more useful information. courses at GW law school. Page 4 AMICUS CURIAE.

practice. 's second rush Van Vleck from page 1 The Fraternity function was addressed by Mr. Charles Ryan, Chairman of the House of Dele- He was a member of a committee of gates, A.B.A., on November 16th. advisors on conflict of· laws for the Parade CI CI CI American Institute of Law, and the PHI DELTA DELTA Sorority held a author of a book dealing with immigra- cocktail party honoring prominent mem- tion administrative laws, Administrative held its first fall bers of the local judiciary and faculty Control of Aliens. rush function on October 19th at Roger members of the Law School, Saturday, He was also a former member of the Smith Hotel. Assistant Dean Benson October 27th, at the residence of Com- Executive Committee of the Association and District Justice Don Moore greeted mander and Mrs. Marvin Staring. First of American Law Schools; The Ameri- the gathering. Law School Secretary year women law students were special can Society of International Law; the Ed Potts described the plans for the guests at the party. American Bar Association; the board G.W. Law Center, and the fund raising of directors of the Legal Aid Society; program which he heads. Phi Delta Phi, the Order of the Coif and PAD's second rush affair on Novem- Sigma Phi Epsilon. ber 2nd was highlighted by Mr. Albert House of Delegates: He received an honorary doctor of Evans, Assistant Director of the Federal laws degree from George Washington Prison System. Mr. Evans accompanied Beginning A Series On in 1948, and was awarded the annual his remarks on the setup of the F.P.S. Alumni Achievement Award that year. with scenic slides of the various institu- American Bar Association Dr. Van Vleck was a member of the tions. PAD will hold its annual fall Rotary, Harvard, Torch and Cosmos pledging ceremonies on November 23rd. "From time to time we hear it said clubs, St. Albans Episcopal Church, and Initiation ceremonies are scheduled for that lawyers generally aren't familiar December 8th. with the organizational structure of the the Fossils, a club of retired men. American Bar Association - how its The former dean is survived by his DELTA THETA PHI conducted a policies evolve, how the House of Dele- widow, the former Jennie Moyer, also panel discussion on "Study Habits and gates is constructed, and the functions a native of Washington, who resides at Exam Writing" at their social smoker of the Board of Governors and the As- 4120 Harrison Street N.W. on October 24th. Learned alumni "Van" sembly." The American Bar Association. Van Sanford, Bill Beckett and Paul Beginning in this issue and continuing Arseneau presided. in issues to follow, Amicus Curiae will New York from page 1 run a series of articles attempting to DELTA THETA PHI's panel discus- The regional competition was spon- familiarize students with the American sion on November 2nd at the Willard sored by the Junior Bar Association of Bar Association. Hotel appealed to a variety of students the District of Columbia; the Law with discussions on admiralty, patent School's team, coached by Prof. Wal:" aspects of antitrust law, negligence and HOUSE OF DELEGATES burn, was sponsored by the Van Vleck Case Club and the Student Bar Asso- U. S. Supreme Court Practice. John In 1936 the House of Delegates of the T. Fey, Clerk of the Supreme Court and American Bar Association was founded. ciation. National Competition is held former Dean of the G.W. Law School, Some fears were expressed at the time under the auspices of the Junior Bar served as the MC and speaker on the that creation of the new body would Association of the City of New York. Supreme Court practices. D; H. Graham, impede, rather than facilitate, the future M. A. Hollabraugh and R. E. Kline, were progress of the Association, even de- the other speakers on the panel. The stroying the "value of the annual meet- Frat Bids OK Now members and guests of KAPPA BETA ings" and "creating a rival" to the Richard Kline, President of the Inter- PI and PHI DELTA DELTA, women's office of the President. Fraternity Legal Council, has announced legal fraternities, were guests of the that bids to the law fraternities can host fraternity. It is reported that a very Instead of being a destructive in- now be sent out. enjoyable social period followed the dis- fluence, the House in the past 20 years cussions. has strengthened the organization and The Council earlier decided that no has enabled the ABA to grow in both fraternity would send out bids to pro- A dinner and Business meeting was numbers and prestige as never before. spective pledges before November 20. held by the Delta Thetas on November 14th at Allison's Tea House. Feature Strong representative leadership has speakers of the evening were J. R. characterized the activities of the As now constituted, the House has a Thompson who gave helpful hints on House-the legislative and policy mak- membership of 236. It includes delegates the general practice of the law, and ing body of the 85,000 member Associa- representing all branches of the legal brother Ralph Kabes who spoke on the tion-since its first session at the 59th profession, the ABA, local and state current situation in Hungary. annual meeting of the ABA in Boston bars, and the following 3ederal officials on August 26, 1936. who are ex-officio members: the Attorney DELTA THETA PHI's future program General of the United States, the Deputy includes the last rush function which Members today recognize that without Attorney General, the Director of the will be an informal smoker on Novem- an agency such as the House of Dele- Administrative Office of the United ber 30th, and a Christmas party on De- gates including as it does representatives States Courts and the Solicitor General cember 15th for members, pledges and of state and local bar associations and of the United States. alumni. many other legal organizations, it would virtually be impossible for the Ameri- Included in the membership of the PHI DELTA PHI held its first fall can Bar Association to act and speak House are members of the Board of rush function on October 25th. The with as authoritative a voice and one Governors, officers of the Association, guest speaker, Mr. A. J. Ahern, Jr. dis- as representative of the entire legal and various past officers. cussed the practical aspects of criminal profession. (to be continued)