Mather Protests Judicial Censure In Loyalty Trials

Kirtley Mather, professor of Geology, joined 15 other scholars Tuesday in issuing a statement asserting that they were "alarmed" by "recent acts of judicial censure, imposition of prison sentences and threats of disbarment" against defense attorneys of political and racial minorities and labor organizations.

Such incidents "might destroy the right to a fair trial and adequate legal counsel" as guaranteed by the Constitution, the signers declared.

The declaration protested specifically the recent contempt of court convictions of George W. Crockett, Jr., Richard Gladstein, Abraham J. Isserman, Louis McCabe, and Harry Sacher, all defense lawyers at the recent Communist conspiracy trial.

Other signers of the statement were: Albert Einstein, Thomas Mann, Olin Downes, Professor Thomas Emerson, Judge Norval K. Harris, Dr. John A. Kingsbury, Professor Robert Lynd, Carey McWilliams, Professor Philip Morrison, Professor Linius Pauling, Dr. Walter Rautenstrauch, I. F. Stone, and Professor Colston E. Warne.