Privilege of the Podium

Mrs. Margaret Harpstrite, a conciliation commissioner in Los Angeles children's court, happened to tell her boss, Judge Georgia Bullock, that an interesting case was on the docket: Actress Susan Hay ward and her estranged husband Jess Barker were coming in to talk over the custody of their children. "Fine," said motherly Judge Bullock. "Let me know when they come."

When they did, Judge Bullock hurried upstairs to have her picture taken with the Barkers. Mrs. Harpstrite left the room in tears. "She had to be in the picture," Mrs. Harpstrite cried, "so let her take the case herself. I won't hear it." Susan tried to calm the conciliator by stroking her hair and saying, "You take the case. I like you" But Conciliator Harpstrite would not be conciliated. Susan and Jess trooped downstairs to Judge Bullock's chambers, trailed by their lawyers.

The lady judge sent them right back up again. "Mrs. Harpstrite is very competent to hear this," she said. "There's no reason to transfer it here." Conciliator Harpstrite was still vexed. "It isn't fair," she cried "She sits down there on her podium and I do all the work. It just isn't fair. I work so hard so many nights and go without lunch all the time and she comes in and has her picture taken and gets all of the glory." She wept.

Back went the supplicants to the judge's chambers. "I'm busy," snapped the judge. They climbed back upstairs again. They consoled Mrs. Harpstrite. Finally, "for the good of the court," she dried her eyes, sighed and went to work. It was decided that Susan could have her children during the week and that Jess could have them over weekends.

There was a happy ending for Mrs. Harpstrite, too. At a tactful newsman's suggestion, cameramen took another set of pictures--with Mrs. Harpstrite and without Judge Bullock.

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