I
UNITED STATES COURT OF ApPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
CHAM.IRS OF
ALBERT BRANSON MARIS
UNITID CIJiCUIT JUDCOE
Honorable Antonio Fernos-Isern,
House of Representatives,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Dr. Fernos:
2070 UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE
PHILADELPHIA 7. PA.
February 17, 1954
Thank you for your letter of February 12th.
I think you are qUi~e right in hesitating at this time to
bring forward any proposals for the amendment, even for perfecting
purposes, of the Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act.
However, I also agree that if and when the Senate passes the
Hawaiian statehood bill it will be appropriate for you to propose
the amendment of Title 28 to eliminate the intermediate appeal from
the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico to the United States Court of Ap-peals
for the First Circuit for in that case Puerto Rico will, as
you point out, be the only jurisdiction in which this cumbersome
intermediate right of appeal is given.
In this connection I wbuld hope you might cons~der at
the same time proposing that the term of office of the United States
District Judge in Puerto Rico be changed to good behavio~ for the
case of the Hawaiian judges so that Judge Ruis Nazario will be the
only remaining United States District Judge who does not hold his
office during good behavior. This could, of course, be a'ccomplished
..
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT JUDGE
;FEB 18 A.M.
quibe Will, granting of statehood to Hawaii will have made that change in the
.
Honorable Antonio Fernos-Isern 2-17-1954
by a simple amendment of Title 28 without raising any question
as to transforming the District Court in Puerto Rico into a constitutional
court or making any modification in the Puerto Ri~Federal
Relations Act.
W-ith kindest regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
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