# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 2/10th Congress/2nd Session/Chapter 27

Chap. XXVII.—An Act further to amend the Judicial System of the United States.
Circuit court of the U. States to perform the duties of the district courts, in cases of the disability of district judges. Justices of the supreme court to direct the clerk of the district court to certify to the next circuit court all actions, &c. &c. depending in the district court. Notice to be published.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in case of the disability of the district judge of either of the districts of the United States to hold a district court, and to perform the duties of his office, and satisfactory evidence thereof being shown to the justice of the supreme court, allotted to that circuit in which such district attorney or marshal of such district court ought by law to be holden; and on application of the district attorney or marshal of such district in writing to the said justice of the supreme court, said justice of the supreme court shall thereupon issue his order in the nature of a certiorari, directed to the clerk of such district court, requiring him forthwith to certify into the next circuit court to be holden in said district, all actions, suits, causes, pleas, or processes, civil or criminal, of what nature or kind soever, that may be depending in said district court and undetermined, with all the proceedings thereon, and all files and papers relating thereto; which said order shall be immediately published in one or more newspapers, printed in said district, and at least thirty days before the session of such circuit court, and shall be deemed a sufficient notification to all concerned. And the said circuit court shall thereupon have the same cognizance of all such actions, suits, causes, pleas, or processes, civil or criminal, of what nature or kind soever, and in the like mannerJustice of the supreme court to exercise the powers of district judge during the disability of the district judge. Nothing in this act shall require the judge of the supreme court to hold any special court or court of admiralty at any other time than the legal time of the session of the circuit court. as the district court of said district by law might have, or the circuit court, had the same been originally commenced therein; and shall proceed to hear and determine the same accordingly; and the said justice of the supreme court during the continuance of such disability shall moreover be invested with and exercise all, and singular, the powers and authority, vested by law in the judge of the district court in said district. And all bonds and recognizances taken for or returnable to such district court shall be construed and taken to be to the circuit court, to be holden thereafter, in pursuance of this act, and shall have the same force and effect in such circuit court, as they could have had in the district court to which they were taken: Provided, that nothing in this act contained shall be so construed as to require of the judge of the supreme court within whose circuit such district may lie, to hold any special court, or court of ​admiralty, at any other time than the legal time for holding the circuit court of the United States in and for such district.
Duties of the district clerks under this act. Process &c. &c.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the clerk of such district court shall, during the continuance of the disability of the district judge, continue to certify as aforesaid, all suits or actions of what nature or kind soever, which may thereafter be brought to such district court, and the same transmit to the circuit court next thereafter to be holden in the same district; and the said circuit court shall have cognizance of the same in like manner as is herein before provided in this act, and shall proceed to hear and determine the same:On the ceasing of the disability of the district judge, all causes shall be remanded to the district court. Provided nevertheless, that when the disability of the district judge shall cease or be removed, all suits or actions then pending and undetermined in the circuit court, in which by law the district courts have an exclusive original cognizance shall be remanded, and the clerk of the said circuit court shall transmit the same, pursuant to the order of said court, with all matters and things relating thereto, to the district court next thereafter to be holden in said district, and the same proceedings shall be had therein in said district court as would have been, had the same originated or been continued in the said district court.
District clerks during the disability of the judges, to take examinations, make rules, &c. &c.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That in case of the district judge in any district being unable to discharge his duties, as aforesaid, the district clerk of such district shall be authorized and empowered, by leave or order of the circuit judge of the circuit in which such district is included, to take, during such disability of the district judge, all examinations and depositions of witnesses, and make all necessary rules and orders preparatory to the final hearing of all causes of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction.
Approved, March 2, 1809.