The Nevada journal., 1857-01-16
The Division of the District.

The Sierra DcMOcfGC OF the lOtn inst.
discusses in an able manner the propri-
city of the division, by the present leg
islature, of the 14th judicial district.
The necessity of this course has become
apparent to all who know any thing of
the condition of legal business in the
three counties which compose our dis
trict at the present time. In the coun-
ties of Nevada and Sierra, not a single
term passes without leaving large
number of cases, many of them of the
greatest importance, untried and unset
tled-at such ruinous increase of the
cost of litiga ton, as only those who
have been suitors in our courts can tho
roughly understand. This arises from
no fault of the court itself for the in
dustry with which Judge Scarls has
constantly labored, and is laboring, to
transact the business which comes be-
fore him, is too well known TO call for
any comment here; : but from the
simple fact that it is an utter impossi-
bility for any one man to try the nu-
merous cases which arise in the rich
and popufous counties of Sierra and Ne
vada alone - not to mention the other
county of Plumas, less important, but
still demanding considerable portion
of the time of the district judge. 1t is a
fact that at this present term of the
court in Nevada, suits are accumulating
upon tie calendar faster than they can be
tried. If this be the case in a single
county, it is easy to see that the legal
business of the three counties will soon
be reduced to inextricable confusion.
The evils of this state of facts are
apparent. In order that justice in a
court of law may be efficacious it must
be performed speedily. The delays
necessarily incident to our system of
law, in its promptest administration are
sufficiently onerous. When there are
added to these the delays consequent
upon an over-crowded calendar, the OBJ
structions in the way of speedy justice
are burthensome il the extreme. Cases
must be adjourned from term to term,
simply because there is not time to try
them. Witness and court fees mnsl be
paid. Often, from the migratory habits
of our people, valuable testimony is lost
beyond recovery. Sometimes the prop
erty in suit must lie idle and unimproyed
until it becomes yalueless; and the
suitor, with justice on his side, finds him
self ruined past redemption, before he
can possibly obtain hearing by the
court.
The only remedy for this existing
evil is the division of our judicial dis
trict. The plan of division proposed by
the Democrat will undoubtedly meet
with the appreciation of the residents
of Nevada county. 1t is that this coun-
ty should form single district by ITSELF
and that a new district should be formed
composed of the counties of Sierra and
Plumas. This division would be an
equable and natural one. The business
of either of the districts thus formed
will be sufficient to occupy the undivi-
ded attention of single Judge. By
having judge resident at the county
seat, the important chamber business
constantly arising, can be transacted
without loss of time, and actions can be
promptly tried and decided, without
the enormous expense consequent upon
repeated continuances.
We hope bill will be introduced be-
fore the present legislature as soon as
it is practicable, providing for this d.
vision.
GOVERNOR'S MCSSAcp (toror,ov