The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, December 6, 1962, page 26 (of 66)

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FEMALE LAWYER ASKS Is Marriage Divorce Ground?

By JUNE GRAY Woman's Editor "Just getting married in Florida is almost grounds for a divorce," said Mrs. Edith McIlvaine James, 67-year-old family law expert. Mrs. James, who was admitted to the bar in 1930, feels that alcoholism and narcotic addiction should not be grounds for a divorce since they are curable. She also thinks the six-month resident requirement should be extended to a year. This would get rid of transit people who live here only long enough to establish a residence, but do not stay long enough to pay taxes. NO DEGREE A mother of three daughters, Mrs. James attended University of Florida Law School for six years, 1924-30, before passing her bar examination. She did not get a degree. "I was working at the same time in a law office, so I was practicing there what I was being taught in the class room. I also had my children to support since my husband, who was an English gentleman, died in 1927." Mrs. James well remembers the first time she argued before the Florida Supreme Court. "Several of the judges were good friends of my father, so I did not think I would have much trouble. HAT OFF PLEASE "I put on my best pink linen dress, matching pink shoes and hat, and combed my gray hair. I marched in and seated myself before the judges feeling rather smug when the bailiff tapped me on the shoulder and said 'Lady would you please remove your hat.' "It took me several minutes to recover. Later one of the judges told me that the law states everyone arguing before the court must remove his hat." Mrs. James moved to 7640 SW 71st Ave. six years ago from Jacksonville to live with her daughter and son-in-law, but recently her son-in-law was transferred to Jacksonville, and Mrs. James lives alone with her cat, Tigertail. From 1940-45, she maintained the Jacksonville office of John E. Matthews, chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court, while he was in Tallahassee. "But when he moved to the capital permanently, I quit working for him, because I did not want to leave Jacksonville," she said. Mrs. James has written in 22 legal volumes at the request of the Harrison Company of Law Publishers of Atlanta. Each volume includes all the Florida cases and decisions on a particular subject. Her writings include divorce, drugs and druggists, fish and game, commercial fishing, and currently she is writing on warehouses. IT'S AN HONOR "I do not make much money for my writing. It is mainly an honor to be asked to write," she commented. "The books are a must for every law office. For every case, we do not have a law for, the judges go back to the old English law, which bails us up from hell to breakfast." Since Mrs. James has moved her law office to her home, the majority of her cases deal with divorce and real estate. She also draws up deeds and wills. Her children have often reproached her for never re-marrying. "I told them I had to find someone my age," she said, "and someone my age is usually looking for a young woman. Secondly, he would have to be a lawyer, otherwise he would say, 'She thinks she is so damn smart because she is a lawyer. "But if he is a lawyer, he will think, 'oh she is just another woman lawyer.' This combination is hard to find, and usually he is already married to another woman."

PEOPLE Places & Things

Mrs. C. H. McDevitt Jr., wife of the chairman of the board at Doctors' Hospital, left her home at 5675 SW 74th Ave. Sunday for Chicago. Mrs. McDevitt will visit their oldest son, Tom, who is the father of twin girls, Patricia and Cecelia, born 2 months ago. They live in Rockford, 100 miles from Chicago. From there, Mrs. McDevitt will go to Philadelphia to be with her mother, who is celebrating her 90th birthday Sunday. Mrs. McDevitt will visit another son, Charles McDevitt III, in Philly. She'll return home Monday. Mr. and Mrs. John T. Watters' Thanksgiving visit to their daughter and son-in-law in Akron, Dr. and Mrs. G. W. Quinn, has lengthened due to an accident suffered by Dr. Quinn. The doctor fell and broke three ribs and in complications resulting has had to be hospitalized. The Watterses, who expected to be back home last week, are staying on at 880 Shullo Dr. in Akron to help their daughter Suzanne in the interim. Mrs. Clarence Huskamp and Mrs. Donald Roark are honoring Verona Eunice Halifax with a coffee Dec. 20 at the Huskamp home, 4220 Santa Maria Ave. Verona and sister Joan, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Halifax, 3501 Durango St., will be home for the holidays from New Orleans where they attend college.

HEARING AIDS

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WATER HEATERS

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Holiday Inn OF CORAL GABLES

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THE NEW JOHNNIE & MACK

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