Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 50 Article 12 Issue 5 January-February Winter 1960 The aN tional District Attorneys' Association Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/jclc Part of the Criminal Law Commons, Criminology Commons, and the Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons Recommended Citation The aN tional District Attorneys' Association, 50 J. Crim. L. & Criminology 489 (1959-1960) This Criminal Law is brought to you for free and open access by Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology by an authorized editor of Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. Articles, Reports, and Notes OF THE NATIONAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS' ASSOCIATION [This section of the Journal has been added for the exclusive use of the National District Attorneys' Associ- ation. The selection and editing of the material contained herein is the sole responsibility of the Association's representative, Mr. Duane R. Nedrud, a former prosecuting attorney, and a member of the Association. How- ever, neither Mr. Nedrud, the Association, nor the Journal assumes any responsibility for the views expressed by the authors of articles appearing in this section.] Editor: Duane R. Nedrud, Assistant Professor of Law, University of Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri THE TENTH ANNUAL SUMMER CONFERENCE OF THE NATIONAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS' ASSOCIATION PROSECUTORS CHANGE NAME; ELECT EDWARD S. SILVER PRESIDENT A very successful annual meeting was held in Victor H. Blanc Richard E. Gerstein Milwaukee, July 30 through August 1, 1959, the Treasurer Vice President hosts being William J. McCauley, District Attor- (District Attorney) (State Attorney) ney of Milwaukee County, and his staff. The na- p'hiladelphia, Pa. Miami 32, Fla. tional organization of local government prose- cutors and attorneys changed their name from Kent B. Power William B. McKesson "National Association of County and Prosecuting Secretary Vice President Attorneys" to the more compact "National Dis- (Prosecuting Attorney) (District Attorney) trict Attorneys' Association". The Association, Weiser, Idaho Los Angeles, Calif. whose motto is "Organized Law Enforcement vs. Organized Crime," will continue to seek methods Garrett H. Byrne Keith Mossman Vice President of improving the efficiency of local governments as Vice President (District Attorney) well as the strict and honest enforcement of crim- (County Attorney) Boston, Mass. inal laws, which have been the objectives of the Vinton, Iowa organization since its inception more than ten Frank H. Newell, III George M. Scott years ago. Steps have been taken to incorporate Vice President Historian the National District Attorneys' Association as a (State's Attorney) (County Attorney) non-profit organization under an Act of Congress. Towson, Md. Minneapolis, Minnesota Edward S. Silver, District Attorney of Kings County, Brooklyn, New York, was elected Presi- Blaine Ramsey Melvin G. Rueger dent, succeeding J. St. Clair Favrot, District At- Vice President Associate Member, Execu- torney of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The other new (State's Attorney) tive Committee officers are: Lewistown, Ill. (Ist. Ass't. Prosecuting Attorney) Patrick Brennan James H. DeWeese Vincent P. Keuper Cincinnati, Ohio Executive Vice President Vice President Vice President (at large)' (Prosecuting Attorney) (Prosecuting Attorney) (County Prosecutor) South Bend, Indiana Troy, Ohio Freehold, New Jersey AWARDS Second Annual Furtherance of Justice Award to Hon. Frank S. Hogan The Hon. Frank E. Moss, former president of justice Award for the year 1959 to Frank S. Hogan, the Association and now United States Senator District Attorney of New York County, in the form from Utah, was Toastmaster at the Banquet held of a plaque, which stated in part: on the evening of August 1. At that time President " .for his outstanding service as a prose- J. St. Clair Favrot presented the Furtherance of cutor, exemplifying during a quarter of a cen- 10TH ANUAL CONFERE.VCE OF NDAA [Vol. so tury by his courage in humanity the highest sity Law School; Calhoun W. J. Phelps, Princeton, ideals of justice and for his sustained interest Illinois; and Jack Streeter, Reno, Nevada. and his resourceful contributions in all areas of law enforcement throughout our coun- try ....; Other notables present at the banquet and/or Mr. Hogan's address has been printed in its en- during the meetings were Bill Tailman (more tirety in 'he Bulletin of The National District At- familiarly known as Hamilton Burger, of the torneys' Association. The practice of making an Perry Mason annual presentation of the Furtherance of Justice series); the Hon. Frank P. Zeidler Award was started last year. The first recipient was Mayor of Milwaukee; Mr. "Birdie" Tebbetts, the Hon. J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the Federal Executive Vice President of the Milwaukee Braves; Bureau of Investigation. and Hon. John F. Kennedy, U. S. Senator from Honorary membershps were awarded to Judge Massachusetts, who was a featured speaker, and Richard W. Bardwell, Madison, Wisconsin; Pro- whose address at the convention received nation- fessor Fred E. Inbau of the Northwestern Univer- wide newspaper coverage. EARLE STANLEY GARDNER AND "THE COURT OF LAST RESORT" Mr. Gardner discussed the history of the "Court in a small way with a group that worked in the of Last Resort." Contrary to common belief, prose- "Court of Last Resort". Eventually, when the cor- cutors, wardens, police and parole boards have poration got big enough, it could be taken over by written to the "Court" asking for attention in cer- some foundation or group which could provide a tain cases. Mr. Gardner mentioned that because of paid manager. However, he added that the thing his involvement with the "Court" he runs into was just too big to start small. He said he would many who state he is interested in the adminis- like to see the Association broaden its scope, in tration of justice simply as . prop in order to sell doing something about re-appraising the few cases, books. In one instance, in reply to an accusation of percentage-wise, where people are the victims of a certain judge, he pointed out that if every man, wrongful conviction. woman and child in that particular state went out (Editor's note: The National District Attorneys' tomorrow and started buying Gardner books, he Association is at this time looking into a particular case wouldn't even notice the difference in his royalty which was called to its attention regarding whether statements. He also stated that his appearance was or not an individual was innocent of a crime for which pretty much his "swan song", for he is 70 years old he was convicted. The Association has filed a brief and is giving up extracurricular work and retiring as amicus curiae in this case. In addition, a committee from the "Court of Last Resort". Gardner stated has been appointed, within the Association, to spear- he would like to have a non-profit corporation or- head the possibility of forming a foundation such as Mr. Gardner suggests, such foundation to include ganized for the purpose of bringing home to the all branches of law enforcement, i.e., police, sheriffs, people the necessity for respecting the law and wardens, prosecutors, as well as other interested par- obeying it, which he had thought could be started ties.) "CRIME AND THE FAMILY" The program for the year 1959 concentrated on presented, under the direction of James H. De- the theme "Crime and the Family". Many out- Weese of Troy, Ohio, the program chairman of the standing personalities from across the nation were Milwaukee Meeting. "The Punishment and Rehabilitation of the Convicted Family Provider" A panel discussion on the subject "The punish- County, Wisconsin, and Chairman of the Citi- ment and rehabilitation of the convicted family zens Advisory Committee on Jails and Rehabili- provider" was moderated by Keith Mossman, tation of Criminals, discussed the Wisconsin Huber County Attorney, Vinton, Iowa. Judge Robert Act. He pointed out that the purposes of this state W. Hansen, of the District Court of Milwaukee parole system are (1) to promote rehabilitation and 10TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF NDAA reformation of offenders; and (2) to provide for the Huber Act, but feels that the combination of the support, without recourse to public assistance, complete restriction of liberty, coupled with com- of the dependents or family of the offender. On the plete freedom without help, is not the best ap- 30th day of July, 1959, in the Milwaukee County proach to the problem. It may scare a man into Jail alone, there were 102 Huber Act prisoners, in- paying for support of his family, but it has nothing cluding 2 women, of which 88 were employed and built into it which will correct a family or indi- the others were seeking employment with the vidual problem. There is too great an emphasis on Sheriff's assistance. In the year 1958, in Mil- money collected and managed by the government. waukee County, Huber Act prisoners earned He suggests probation without confinement. Good $161,000 of which $60,000 remained with the probation, involving a comprehensive diagnostic County to pay for their board. Judge Hansen study leading to the isolation of causes of behavior stated that he believed the Huber Act will graduate and the projection of treatment goals under close from being an alternative available in the disposi- supervision. Such supervision can be successful in tion of misdemeanor cases to being used also in 70 percent to 75 percent of the felony convictions connection with felony defendants committed to with no greater danger to the public and tremen- a state prison. dous savings. The Huber Law has its place in care- Sheriff Robert O'Neal of Indianapolis, Indiana, fully selected cases where there can be no profit spoke about the year old Indiana Law which pro- from traditional probation services.