tributed among the judges of the district courts and circuit courts of appeals, the committees of lawyers, the bar associations, and the individual members of the profession who have aided the Advisory Committee, with the object of obtaining further suggestions from members of the profession during the remainder of this year while the draft is under consideration by the Court. The Advisory Committee organized and commenced work in June 1935, and since that date there has been hardly a period when either the whole Committee or subcommittees or individual members of the Committee have not been engaged on this work. The task has been laborious but interesting. We hope our draft will furnish material which will aid the Court in effecting real reform in the procedure in the district courts. The Advisory Committee has been supported by the advice and assistance of committees appointed by the judges in the various judicial districts, of committees of bar associations, and of individual members of the profession. Attorneys in the Department of Justice and in other branches of the government service have given valuable advice on questions relating to government litigation. We doubt if any other effort for reform in judicial procedure has been accompanied by greater interest and cooperation on the part of the legal profession. All suggestions of committees and individuals were copied and distributed to each member of the Advisory Committee, were carefully digested and then considered at the meetings of the whole Committee. The rules, other than those on depositions, discovery, and summary judgments, were drafted under the supervision of Charles E. Clark, the Reporter, on whose staff James William Moore, Joseph M. Friedman, and others have rendered valuable service. Edson R. Sunderland supervised the draft on depositions, discovery, and summary judgments. The Committee has been fortunate in the secretarial staff in its office in the Supreme Court of the United States Building at Washington. The speed and accuracy with which this staff, aided by the Photostat Section of the Department of Justice, has turned out the numerous drafts and revisions have been noteworthy. Edward H. Hammond, assigned by the Attorney General to the Committee's staff, ably assisted by Leland L. Tolman, has not only aided in organizing the Committee's work but has really performed the full service of a member of the Advisory Committee. The untiring and highly efficient service of Irene G. LeDane, head of the secretarial force, and her assistants, Lois L. Dennis and Virdelma J. Bass, is gratefully acknowledged. When rules of civil procedure for the district courts are promulgated by the Court, consideration should be given to the question of whether a standing Advisory Committee, serving without compensation, should be appointed to receive suggestions from time to time from the members of the bench and bar and to aid the Court in drafting amendments which experience may show to be desirable. Until the Court finishes its consideration of this report, the members of the present Advisory Committee are ready to perform such further service as the Court may require. Respectfully submitted. WILLIAM D. MITCHELL, Chairman, GEORGE WHARTON PEPPER, Vice-Chairman, EDGAR B. TOLMAN, Secretary, CHARLES E. CLARK, Reporter, WILBUR H. CHERRY, ARMISTEAD M. DOBIE, ROBERT G. DODGE, GEORGE DONWORTH, JOSEPH G. GAMBLE, MONTE M. LEMANN, SCOTT M. LOFTIN, EDMUND M. MORGAN, WARREN OLNey, Jr., EDSON R. SUNDERLAND, Advisory Committee on Rules for Civil Procedure. APRIL 30, 1937. |