Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-01-18
THE CODE OF LAWS FOR THE DIS
TRICT OF COLUMBIA.


To the Editor of the Alerandria Gazette:
The volume of the Code of Laws prepared
by the joint committee of Congress, and report
ed to the last session, has been within few
days sent to some of the persons in this place
included in the order of the Senate.
The object of making this order was to give
an opportunity to the people to examine them
and make such objections to them as they might
have. Time has not been allowed for even
hasty reading of them, much less to see what
may be their effect when put into operation 1t
is hoped, therefore, that Congress will not act
on them during the present session.
have examined that portion of them that re-
lates to the organization of the Courts and to
the penal code of the District.
There are strong objections to the proposed
arrangement of the Courts.
The proposition is to have three Counties in
the District--in each of which there are to be
fifteen Justices of the Peace, five to hold alter
nately in each county, monthly, a Court to De
called "the Inferior Court" that is, twelve
Courts in each county, with the right to hold
Special Courts. So that there will be in the
District, certainly, thirty-six Inferior Courts in
a year. These Courts are to have jurisdiction
in civil cases when the sum exceeds twenty dol
lars and does not exceed one hundred dollars;
and over all petty crimes: an appeal is given
from this Court to the Superior Court IN each
county.
Each of these Justices in their respective
counties, has jurisdiction in all cases where the
sum does not exceed twenty dollars; from the
decision of single Justice, when the sum is
over five dollars, there is right of appeal to
the Inferior Court Each Justice may have his
Court daily.--That is, he may hold his Court
three hundred and fourteen times IN the year.
And there may be in the three counties OF the
District a single Magistrate Court to the num-
Der of nine hundred and forty-two in the course
of the year
The bill provides that there shall be Supe-
rior Court for each of the three counties, to be
held by one of the Judges of the present Cir
cult Court whose jurisdiction in Civil cases
shall be where the debt is above 100 dol
lars;-there may be appeals from the Inferior
to the Superior Courts. These Courts have
Chancery jurisdiction and criminal jurisdiction.
They are to be held twice year in each Coun-
ty: that is six of these Courts in the whole Dis
trict in year
The bill provides, that there shall be in each
county an Orphans Court to be held certainly
twice in each month that is, twenty four times
in each county, or seventy-two sessions OF the
Court in the whole District. From the deel-
sions of this Court is an appeal to the Superior
Court.
There is also to be Court of Appeals, to De
held twice a year, for the whole District, at the
City of Washington, to consist OF the three Judg-
cs who are to hold the Superior Courts in the re-
spective counties To this Court appeals are
allowed from the Superior Courts; and from the
decisions of the Court ofAppeals an appeal may
be taken to the Supreme Court of the United
States By the bill, a Judge is to be appointed
for the Orphans, Court ofthe new county, with
as alary ofnotless than $1,000, and courthouse
and jail built.
Thus it appears, if this bill is passed, there will
syheld annually inthe District, containingia pop
uiation not exceeding $4,000, the following num-
Der Of Courts:
Inferior Courts So
Orphans Courts ~
Superior Courts
Court of Appeals g
In all 116
Besides the Courts of single Justice of the