Pacific Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 17, 1948, Tokyo, T�ky�                                Iii Jyh i Fri tit her jux " of " Henig c7 or government and Legal sections editor s note this is the first of a series of articles on How some of the Szaf sections which Deal specifically with the japanese people Are carrying out continuing programs to implement policies initiated during the Early part of the occupation As the occupation enters its fourth year Many of the Basic directives of the Potsdam. Declaration have been achieved in framework at least and the task is now to strengthen this framework through continuous demonstrations of the democratic Way of life. By Esther Crane staff writer with the occupation marking third year anniversary mile stones a number of newly created japanese postwar organizations Are also starting to celebrate anniversaries. One of the most dramatic and colourful of these recent anniversary programs was planned to Mark the first annual birthday of the new supreme court in Japan. This new streamlined body reduced from its prewar Clumsy person Nel of 32 persons to 15 competent judges represents an achievement for which honors can be divided be tween two Scap offices the govern ment and Legal sections. Keeping Pace with the changing character of the occupation the latter office has recently inherited the government Section s courts and Law division now  the Legal and Justice division. The. Founding of the supreme court anniversary program began with an elaborate program at Chuo University in Kanda where a moot court was held for the Benefit of some 3,000 spectators. This mock murder trial Complete with actors furnished by the Toho motion Pic Ture company and judges from Tokyo s most illustrious Legal circles was  demonstrate the new. Code of criminal procedure to be come effective in january 1949. The imposing furniture chairs and platforms for the presiding and assist ing judges the lawyers and Procura tors a witness Box for accused and benches for the actor witness was All borrowed for the occasion from the supreme court building near the metropolitan police Bureau in Tokyo. Presiding judge was Kingo Yama Moto senior judge of the Tokyo District court and assisting him were judges who have figured in the notorious Nishio and Hirasawa cases. The procurator Yoshio idea had acted in that same capacity for both the Hira no and Nishio cases. The accused appearing in a prison uniform Drew much applause from the audience for his convincing de Meanor and when he and each succeeding witness was sworn in the entire auditorium spontaneously arose to participate in the act the various witnesses managed to inject not a Little humor into their testimonies contributing to the unravelling of a confession obtained under duress plot. The Climax was the ultimate Clearing of the accused charged with the confessed murder of his. Wife. The mock trial was preceded by two lectures one on the socialization of rights Given by supreme court judge Matasuke Kawamura and the other on the new criminal procedure by professor Shigemitsu Dando of Tokyo University Climax ing the afternoon was the showing of a motion picture film the life of Emile Zola depicting a historic free doom of speech trial Case. Another of history s famous trials was later featured in the japanese performance of the merchant of Venice shown at the Imperial Thea Ter and scheduled for a repeat performance under the sponsorship of the Manichi newspaper. Another leading Tokyo newspaper cooperated in the court anniversary program by featuring a period of questions and answers to those desiring advice on complicated Legal questions. While the legislation and Justice division has consistently encouraged the planning of a supreme court anniversary program it is the japanese members of the Legal profession who initiated and worked out All of the details. Yorihiro Naiad Secretary of the supreme court was the Liaison member for Scap consultations. He received a Good Deal of help in the program from Arthurj Mccormick v.-wsssw.?1-w.v wow a. Chief of the judicial operations Branch in the Legal Section. Mccormick formerly assistant Dean of the Cleveland Law school is impressed with the eagerness which the Japa Nese show in desiring to learn All about american methods in the Legal profession. It was he who helped the supreme court judges to acquire their new Robes copied from one loaned to Mccormick by a member of the International military tribunal office. The office of the supreme court chief Justice now parallels that of the prime minister and the attorney general under whose authority the court functions is ranked As a Cabi net minister in the new government set up. The old pre War supreme court was completely controlled by the now defunct ministry of Justice which was in turn wholly responsible to the Imperial government. Under the supreme court established according to the new court organization Law Are eight High courts or appellate courts located in Tokyo Sapporo Nagoya Osaka Sendai Hiroshima Fukuoka and Takamatsu. There Are 47 District courts one in each prefecture and some 559 sum Mary courts which correspond to the police or county courts in the United states. The ministry of Justice was abolished from the japanese government in december 1947, following a letter from the supreme commander to prime minister Katayama in septem Ber of the same year. Macarthur s letter suggested that in order to reflect the separation of the judiciary from the executive Branch of the. Government under the hew Constitution it would be Wise to replace the Justice ministry with an attorney general s office. The supreme court anniversary program is typical of the current Scap Effort to implement newly established policies through presenting them in practical form so that they May be understood and appreciated by the people at Large. Radio. Pro Grams have also been used in this general education project concerning the supreme court the attorney general s office and the new code of criminal procedure. The mock trial for Public edification is in line with some of the local autonomy programs also originally initiated in scan government Sec Tion and recently transferred to an operational level in eighth army. Mccormick has gone out with Cecil g. Tilton on a number of the latter s prefectural Tours where the local autonomy Law has been presented to representatives of local government bodies through personally conducted forums. Eighth army Legal and government team members have an swered a wide variety of practical local questions and Given much valuable advice on these Tours which have covered All 47 prefectures. Japan s metamorphosis from a militaristic to a democratic state is nowhere better shown than in the new supreme court building right which was formerly the War ministry. On the left is present building used. Below is supreme. Court Justice Kawar Nura during the recent mock trial held at Chuo University