Bastian v. Watkins, Clerk

The primary question presented on this appeal is whether a local rule of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, regulating who may file pleadings in that court, is valid or invalid. The appeal is from an order of court sustaining a demurrer to the petition of two attorneys at law (David C. Bastían and William J. Rowan) for a writ of mandamus to require the clerk of court (Clayton K. Watkins) to receive a pleading the petitioners desired to file on behalf of a client in the office of the clerk. In effect, the ruling upheld the validity of the rule.

The petitioners, who are residents of…