Wartime Washington   1943-1944

The record of the hearing was in fifteen or twenty volumes and it took me weeks just to read them. I finally got the brief written and I thought I did a pretty good job. Jay Knudson reviewed and corrected my brief and during the time I worked under him I received much valuable experience in hearing work, writing briefs and in arguing cases.


YEAR (FILE ) SUBJECT
---- ------- ---------------------------------
1943 (9011) Sarah Jane Israelson - Red Cross Worker
1943 (0010) Captial Review Club Thanksgiving Program
1943 (0011) Capital Review Club Thanksgiving Program

LETTERS
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(L430906) Dorothy Griffin to Maude / Arlington, VA
(L430915) John Griffin to Parents / Louisville, KY
(L430918) Dorothy Griffin to Madge Griffin / Arlington, VA
(L431216) Dorothy Griffin to Maude / Arlington, VA

In January of 1944 I was called into the office of the Division chief and asked if I wanted to move over to a new field handling work under the Packers and Stockyards Act. I had received one increase since coming with Agriculture and they offered me an additional grade raise to $5600 per annum to do this new work. I was sorry to leave the I.C.C. work and my association with Jay Knudson, but I felt that I should take advantage of the opportunity that was offered me.

I accepted the new assignment and was immediately given three cases that were being appealed to a special three-judge federal court at St. Paul, Minnisota. I had to read the original hearing records and then prepare motions for summary judgement which were filed. The arguments were set for early in February, 1944. I went to St. Paul a few days early to confer with the U.S. Attorney and was told that I would handle the argument as they were not sufficiently familiar with the cases to do it.

When the court conveined, the presiding judge announced that they would stay in session with the three cases until they had all been heard, as it was impossible for them to convein the following day. We started out at 10 am and except for an hour out for lunch, went straight through until 6 that evening. I had never before argued a case in court and especially a three judge court and I was awfully nervous. I decided, however, that it was no different than arguing a case before the Commission, so I just gave it all I had. I was told that I did very well and was happy that we won two of the three cases. The decision was a very good one as far as helping enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act was concerned, and is still quoted in briefs involving unfair practices under the act. The case is cited as United States v. Midwest Farmers,, et. al., 64 Fed. Supp. 91.

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