Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-07-01
AaIErr I-coUSrr COURT.

AafEIE I-coUSTr COURT.
Sec. i. There shall be in each county Of
this Commonwealth, o county court to con-
sist Of justices Of the peace. The jurisdic-
ton Of the said courts shall be the same as
tina. ofthe existing county courts, until and
except 80 far as it shall be taken away In
this Constitution, or hereafter modified by the
Legislature.
z. The Counties shall be divided into dis
tricts az nearly equal in territory and popula-
ton as practicable but no county shall con
tain loss than two districts--and there shall
be elected in each district. by the qualified
voters thereof. for the term Of four years,
four justices Of the peace, resident therein.
8. The justices so elected, shah from their
own number, elect one Of their body, who
shall be the presiding justice Of the county
court. and such presiding justice with not
less than two nor more than four associate
justices, and in the absence Of the presiding
justice not less than three nor more than FIVE
justices, shall constitute court--except in
the appointment Of county officers, and for
assessing the county levy--and it shall be
the duty of the Legislature to provide by law
for the classification Of the associate justices
for the performance of their duty in court.
4..lTbere shall be monthly terms of the
county court held in each county.
S. The presiding justice and associate JUS
tees shall receive per diem compensation
for their services whilst sitting in court, to be
asccrtained by law, and paid out of the
county treasury; and shall not receive any
fee or, cmolument for judicial services.
6..Justiccs Of the peace shall have such
power and jurisdiction within their respective
counties. as the law may prescribe.
ARTICLE II-couSTT OFFICERS.
Sec. 1. There shall be elected from time
to time for each county by the qualified vo-
ters therein, clerk of the county court,
sheriff, an attorney for the commonwealth
surveyor, and SO many commissioners of the
revenue as may be authorized by law, to con-
tinue in Office respectively as follows, to wit
The clerk fer the term Of six years; the
Sheriff for the term of two years. the attor-
ney for the term of four years and the COM
missioner, or commissioners, OF the revenue
for the term of two years.
2 There shall be elected from time to
time, by the qualified voters therein, one con-
stable for each district, to continue in office
for the term Of two years-who may act in
the whole comfy.
g. There shall be elected from time to
time, by the qualified voters therein one
overseer of the poor for every district to Con
tiape in office for the term of two years.
4 Each of the officers mentioned in this
article shall continue in Office until success
SCR shall have been appointed and qualified
shall reside, during his term of office, in the
county or district for which he was elected,
and shall be re lgible to Office, except the
sheriff, who may be elected for second term,
but shall not be again eligible, until the ex.
piration Of full term after that for which he
was last elected; provided, however, that ap-
poinsments to fill vacancies for an unex PRED
term. shall not como under the operation of
this restriction.
5. Vacancies occurring in any of the FORE
gqing Offices, except that Of clerk, shall be
filled by the temporary appointment Of the
county court--all the justices being summon
ed for that purpose, and a majority being
present---such appointment to continue until
tie next regular term of election. Nacan-
) cias the Office Of tho clerk Of The county
court shall DO filed by an election Of the
qualified voters. in such manner as may be
Weseribed by law.
ARTICLE uI--coRroRtrleS COURTS AND OFFICERS
Nee. \. The Legislature may vest such
jurisdiction as shall be deemed necessary in
corporation courts and in the magistrates
who may belong to the corporate body
r. The mayor, alderman, sergeant, and
other officers appertaining to the cities and
other municipal corporations provided for in
thus constitution, for the counties, together
with such others as may be authorized by
law to be elected, shall be elected by the
qualified yotera.