Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-12-25
TntRspAY, December &c.

4 y.
THbRspAY, December &c.
The House resumed the cousidera-
ton of report from the committee
appointed to examine into the causes
of delay of business ip the court of APP
peals, whichwas in possession of the
house when it adjourned yesterday |;
which report twas read in the following
words ..,..y. :
r. The committee who were appointed
to enquire into the causes of delay in
the administration of justice in the
court of appeals, have, according to or
der, investigated that business as well
as they were able in the short period of
time within which it was necessary to
make their report.
+ Your committee find tkat it very Of.
ten happens at the beginning of the
different terms, that a sufficient mum.
Der of the judges do not attend to con.
stitute court, and that considerable
delays are thereby ocsasioned whe-
Their this arises froffi causes which the
judges cannot controul, or from a GEN.
surable neglect of an imperious duty,
your committee cannot undertake to
determine--but your committee feel
prepared to say, that ifthe Judges were
by law compelled to reside in Rich
moud, the delays from this source
might, in a great measure, be remov.
ed.
Your committee also find ;. that ano-
Their fruitful source of delay, is the in
reference of other courts during the
sitting of the court of appeals. The
interference and consequent DELAY of
business in the court OF appeals, is PEE
culiarly injurious at and during the
October session, when no less than
three courts are occasionally sitting at
the same time in the capitol. to Wit :
the court of appeals, the circuit court
OF the United States, and the general
court, while the same set of lawyers do
the business in all these courts, to ac-
commodate whom, produces the most
grievous delays.
Your committee have also examined
into the number of causes tried at the
different terms for the last IL months.
and have ascertained that in March
last, when the court sits by law TWEEN.
ty-four days, nine argued causes only
Were tried-that at April term, which
continues forty-four days, thirty-two
argued causes were tried, and that at
October term, which continues fiftv-
FIVE days, twenty-three causes were
tried, amounting in all at the three
terms above, to sixty-four argued caus-
es.
= Your committee further state, that
it isprobable that the animosities which
have sprung up between two Of the
Judges, which is too notorious not toI
be generally known, has been another
and fruitful source of delay. How far
these animosities have gone, we are
unable to determine, nor can we saw
that they have assumed such shape
as to merit either censure or consti.
enquiry into the conduct oil
the said judges.
1NOSOtVCb, bhCi SiOtS do Tie OpIOOn OIL
this committee, That the said Judges
ought to reside in the City Of Rich
mond, that the number should be aug.
mented to FIVE, that the lenght of their
session should be increased, aud that
the interference Of said sessions with
other courts ought to be removed as
far as practicable.
Ordered, That the said report and
resolution be laid upon the table.
The following bills were read al
third time and passed, viz.
"Concerning William Robinson"
Establishing town in the county
Of Wood, and FOR other purposes"
" Concerning the reverend William
Harrison, of the town Of Petersburg
"Appointing commissioners TO col.
ecs certain monies due the county oil
Stafford, and for other purposes"