Griswold Asks That Lower Courts Absorb Some of Supreme Court's Heavy Work Load

Erwin N. Griswold, Dean of the Harvard Law School, cited decisions "on too broad grounds" as the basis for recent criticism of the Supreme Court. Griswold told an audience of the State Bar of California last night that an overload of cases was responsible for the courts "objectionable" decisions.

"The bar should recognize that the Court, and each of its members, have far too much to do, and have to work far too hard and too fast, especially in view of the great complexity and importance of the issues that come before it," Griswold said. He stressed that the necessity of working under such intense pressure greatly reduces the efficiency of the High Court. This crucial situation has been created because the scope of review has not been revised since 1925 and in thirty-three years both the population and the number of controversies reaching the Court have made large increases.