Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-02-19
REPORT ON THE JUDICIARY.

The Committee Of The Convention, "appoated 10 take
into consideration much of the present constitution as
relates the Supreme Court of Appeals and the Superior
Courts, the mode of appointment, and of Office of the
Judges and officers of Except Sheys and of
the Attorney General" have made report TO that body
The Committee were not unanimous in their opinions and
various substitutes have been proposed The chief povs
ions of the report are as follows:
There shall be Supreme Court of Appeals, District
Courts and Circuit Courts the jurisdiction of each he
regulated by law except far as prescribed in the ConSi
tuition.
The Stale TO be divided into five sections each section
into Districts and each district into circuits all TO
be bounded by county corporation lines Tile Aegsa-
ture may al intervals o-years e-arrange the sections,
districts and circuits but may rot pcerse the number of
sections There must be not less than two districts IN
sectlun and four circuits in a district.
Court Of .lpptaB-For each section Judge The Court
of Appeals 10 be elected by the Legislature. He must re-
s&e in his section Five judges constitute the Court
majority may hold it, The Court to haveappea,e jaris
dicton only, and in civil only where the matter in
yoved is Of greater value than 5000, exclusive of costs
except in controversies concerning the probate of will the
appointment qualification OF personal representative,
guardian committee concerning mill, road way or
ferry, the right Of corporation or county to leavy tolls
or taxes and except case of hdbcGS corpus anddnuS
and cases involving freedom or the consttu0nality of
S"ults
is not 80 years Of age, and resident Of the section for
which the election is made. during the term for which
he may have been elected Governor member OF Assem-
bly, The Judges 10 hold office for the term OF ID years
from the date of their commissions, and until their
sors are duly qualified, until removed but judge of
this Court remain in Office after attaining the age of 70
years
Circuit Co,ut-For each circuit Judge 10 be elected
by the qualified who must be so years of age and
reside in his circuit No election Of circuit Judge TO be
s.
Judges TO hold Office for Of 10 years. and until their
successors are qualified or until removed. No circuit
Judge be reeligibe the office until his lmmedi
ate successors shall have ceased to hold the Office Each
circuit Judge hold his Court twice year in each
ty &c. wherein circuit Is now directed by law to he
held.
District Courts are 10 be held al least once year by the
circuit Judges of the district and the Supreme Judge who
resides in the section TO which the district belongs The
district Courts to have no original jurisdiction save in
ses of habeds corpus and maRda and in cancery
removed to them from circuit Cont by consent of par
ties.
The salary ola Supreme Judge to be not less than $9000
of Circuit Judge less than $4,000 besides reasonable
travelling expenses. No Judge TO hold any other office OF
appointment or to be elected while in office any political
office under the laws of the State Judges may be remo-
we'd by concurrent majority Of the whole number of each
House Of Assembly the OF removal TO be entered oil
record and the Judge TO have twenty days notice.
The present judges of the Court of Appeals and Circuit
Courts and their successors appointed under the present
constitutions remain in office six months after the temi-
nation OF the first Legislature elected under the new con-
stiiution.
Officers of the Supreme Court and " the District Court
Except SherS) to be appointed by the Courtstheir du
lies to be prescribed by law.
Clerks and Commonwealth Attorneys for the Circu'
Courts be elected by the qualified voters, and to hold Of
flee seven years.
The Attorney General to be appointed by the Legisla
ord h,ld f,lr but a
ure. His duties to DC prescribed by law.
Reports have been likewise submitted by the Commit
tees on the Legislative Department, the Right Of Suf
frage and on County Courts which will publish here
after.