Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-08-08


J. The first ard second circuits shall constitute the frs
district; the third and fourth circuits the second district
the ill sixth md seventh circuits the third district IN
cg! and ninth circuits the fourth district The tthlh an
eleventh. circuits, the fifth district the twelfth AMI ,hir
Ietah circuits the sixth district; the fourteenth and tccn
circuits, The seventh districts the sixteenth and sevenreen
circuits, the eighth district the eighteenth and rinc:tcn
circuits, In: ninth district; and the twentieth aud twenty
I!st circuits, the teEth district.
j. The first ard second districts sl! constitute Tie frs
SECTION; the third and fourth DISTRICTS the second srcru Il!
i'i and sixth districts, The third secli"ni the am
c!-! Districts the fourth section; and tic ninth aad ten
districts the filth section.
5. The General Assembly may ut the end of eight year
alter lie adoption Of this Constitution amt thereafter al in
ie;vals 81 eight years rcai.ance The said circuits districts
ana sections and place any number vi circuits in district
ana nf districts in seriiun but each circuit shall be
geer IN district and each district in section
hce shall not be less than districts md four circuits
sccn and the number Of sections shall not be increased
or diminished.
Circuit Courts.
D. f0r each circuit Judge shall be elected by the voters
hcren who shall Mold his office for the Of eight years
Unless sooner removed in The manner prescribed by hi:
Constitution. He shall the time of his election eas
thirty years of and during his in Office shall
reside 10 The circnit of which he is Judge.
T. circuit Court shall be held least Twice year by the
use OF cuch circuit in every county and corporation there
OF Wherein Circuit Court is may hereafter be
abolished But the Judges in the district may he
4urrd or authorized 10 hd the Of their respective cir
CUTS alternately, and Judge of one circuit hold court
III any other circuit
District Courts
o District Court shall be held least year, in
every district ny me Judges of the circuits constituting the
section and the Judge OF the Supreme Court of Appeals for
Inc section OF which the district forms part any three
wlun may hold court; but no Judge shall sit or decide
upon any appeal taken from his decision The Judge
W ' supreme Court OF Appeals Of section, may
me District Courts Of another section when required or au
iilIrlzed by law to do so.
o. The district shall not have opinal Jurisdiction
ton.
H. For each section Judge shall be elected by the voters
ereo VINO snail hold his office for term of twelve
unless sooner removed in the prescribed by this
Constitution He SHALL the time of his election be at least
:hy tive years of age and during his continuance in office
reside IN The section for which he is elected
H. The supreme Court of Appeals shall consisof the five
unses 50 elected, any three of whom hold court Ii
shall have appellate jurisdiction only EXCEPT in cases OF
haoeas corpus mdndamus and prohibition II shall not have
Jurisdiction IN civil causes where the matter in CONTROVERSY
cAriusiro OF in value or amount Than five
dred dollars except in controversies concerning tile title
boundaries Of land the pIobat Of will the appointment
qualification OF PERSONAL representative guadan, commit
tee curator; concerning MILL road way ferry or
uniing, or The right of corporation of county levy
tolls ur taxes and except in cases OF ha6edS corpus
and prohibition, and involving freedom,
cUnstutlunuly oi law.
r. Special Courts of Appeals to consist of mol less than
three Than five Judges, may be- formed Of the Judges
o the Supreme Court OF Appeals and Of the Circuit Courts
any Of iem try any remaining the dockets Of
The presen, Court Of Appeals when the Judges thereof cease
to hold their offices; Try any which may be
the dockets Of the Supreme Court OF Appeals established by
This Constitution, in respect which majority Of the
Judges Of said court may be situated u make il
improper Tor them to sit on The hearing thereof
Is. When Judgment decree is reversed or affirmed by
the Supreme Cuur OF Appeals the reasons therefor shall be
stated in writing and preserved with the record Of the
General Provisions.
IA Judges shall be commissioned by the Governor and
shall receive fixed and adequate salaries which shall not be
diminished during their continuance In ONCE The salary OF
Judge of The Supreme Court of Appeals shall be- less
than thousand dollars, and that Of Judge Of Cir
cult Court NOT less t,an two thousand dollars per annu
pyrr raj he q
less than fifteen hundred tullars per and each
shall receive reasonable allowance for necessary travel
Is. M Judge during his term of service shall hold any
oler Office appunCent public trust and the acceptance
shall his judicial office shall he, durin"
such term, within year thereafter be eligible TO any
political office
It, No election of Judge shall be held within thirty days
ul The of holding any election Of electors OF President
and Vice President ot the United States of members OF
Congress or of the General Assembly.
II. Judges may be from Office by concurrent
Of both houses of the General Assembly, but major
ity OF all elected each house in
and the of removal shall be entered the
journal of each house The Judge against whom The Gen
ca Assembly may be about proceed, shall receive notice
thereof accompanied by copy OF the causes alleged Tor his
removal least twenty days before the day which either
house n the General Assembly shall act hereupon.
Is The officers Of The Supreme Court of Appeals and Of
the District Courts shall be appointed by the said Courts
pcctivry, by the Judges thereof in vacation Their du
lies compensation and Of office shall be prescribed
by law.
49, The voters of each county corporation in which
Circuit Court is held shall elect clerk Of such conr whose
Of office shall he six The Attorney for the Com
mpnwealth elected for county or corporation wherein
Circuit Court is directed held shall be Attorney for the
Common for that court but in Circuit Court
i, held for city fora county and city, there shall be an
attorney for SUCH be elected by the
Of such CRY or county and city, and to continue in
office for the term of four years The duties and copensa
lion Of these officers and the mode OF removing them from
Diiice, shall be prescribed by law.
20 When vacancy shall in the office OF clerk OF
any coa such may appoint clerk pro empore who
snail discharge the duties Of the office until the vacancy IS
filled.
81 The General Assembly shall provide for the compcn-
saon OF jurors but appropriations for that purpose shall
o. Al every eec5n or Governor IN attorney general
shall be elected by the voters of the Commonwealth for the
term of four years He shall be commissioned by the Gov
erno shall perform such duties and receive such
may be prescribed by law and be removable in the
manner escribed for the removal of Judges.
90 Judges and all other officers, whether elected ap
pointed shall continue discharge the duties of their
offices after their terms of service have expired
Ill their SUCCESSORS are qualified.
a. Writs shall run in the name of the Commonwealth Of
Virginia and be atesed by the clerks Of the several courts
indictments shall conclude against the peace and dignity Of
the Commonwealth.
County Courts.
25 There shall be in each county of the Commonwealth
County Court which shall be neld monthly, by less
than three than five J"sIces except when the law
shall require the presence OF greater number
g. The jurisdiction OF the said court shall be the same as
that existing County Courts, except SO far as it is
modified by this Constitution or may be changed by law
81 Each county shall be laid off into DISTRICTS nearly
equal may be in territory and population In each district
there shall be elected by The thereof four Justices of
the Pence who shall be commissioned by the Governor re-
aide in their respective DISTRICTS and hold their offices for the
of years. The justices elected shall choose one
body, who shall be the presiding Justice OF the
County Court and whose duty shall be TO attend each
term Of said Tho other justices shall be classified by
law for the performance Of their duties in court
% The Justices shall receive for their services In court
per diem compensation be asceained by law and paid
Of the county treasury; and shall not receive any fee or
cnnlunent for other judicial services.
90 The power and Jurisdiction Of Justices OF the Peace
within their respective counties shall be prescribed by law
County officers.
80 The Of each County shall elect Clerk oil the
County Court Surveyor, Attorney for the Common
wealth Sheriff. and many Commissioners OF Inc lteVe-
nue rs NAV he authorized by law who shall hold their res
necivc offices as follows The Clerk and the Surveyor for
the term of six years. the Attorney for the term VI lou
wears; the Sheriff. and the Commissioners for me term o
Two years Cunsiabes and Oyerseers OF the Poor snail De
elected by the voters may be prescribed by law.
81 The officers mentioned in the preceding section except
the Attorneys shall reside in Counties or Districts for
which they were respectively elected No person elected for
va successive terms The office Of Sheriff. shall be re-e
gibe 10 the same Office for the next succeeding term nor
shall he during his of service or within one year there
after be eligible 10 any political Office.
80 The Justices OF the Peace Shei5 Attorneys for the
Clerks Of the Circuit and County Courts.
and all other County Officers shall be subject to indictment
for nsfeasance neglect OF official duiy ana