Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-04-08
Proposed Change TN the Judicial System
of Ohio.

PROPOSED ShhhSe III INC % uoiSi1A s!stei ~.
of Ohio
Mr.. Godfrey (Democrat) from Mercer
county, has introduced in the State
Senate a joint resolution proposing an
amendment to the State Constitution,
which, if passed by the requisite two
thirds of all the members elected to each
House, will be voted upon by the people
at the next October election:
The proposed amend nent provides
that the Supreme Judges shall hold at
least one term of the Supreme Court
each year at the seat of government
They are required to hold no other
courts. The State is to be divided into
six judicial districts of compact terrific
ry, and bounded by county lines, in
each of which shall he elected, by the
electors of such district, one Judge OF
the District Court, who shall be resi-
dent of such district. and shall hold his
Office for the term of five years. The
District Court shall be composed of one
Judge, and said Court shall be held at
least once in each county in each year.
Such court shall have like original juris-
diction with the Supreme Court, and
such appellate jurisdiction as shall be
provided by law.
The court of Common Pleas shall be
composed of one Judge in each county,
who shall be resident of said county,
and be elected by the electors thereof
for the term of five years; shall have
original jurisdiction in all cases in which
the amount claimed is one hundred dol
lars or more, and such appellate juris-
diction as may be provided by law
Said court shall have exclusive jurisdic-
ton in all testamentary and probate
matters; the appointment of admins
traitors and guardians, and settlements
of the accounts of executors, admins
traitors and guardians, and such common
law and criminal jurisdiction as is or
may be provided by law.
The General Assembly may provide
for increasing the number of Com non
Pleas Judges in any county having a
population of more than seventy-five
thousand. There shall be at least four
regular terms of the Court of Common
Pleas in each county each year, and the
General Assembly may provide for
holding adjourned or special terms in
one or more counties.
The Judges of the Courts OF Common
Pleas shall, on or before the first Mon
day in January, annually, fix the times
for holding the regular terms OF the
Soutt SOtD lc5S III II16lT TSSDec-
tive counties, and the Judges of the
District Court shall fix the times for
holding the District Court in each coun-
ty of their respective districts. All the
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas,
Eow commissioned in pursuance of any
laws of the State, shall continue in of
fic for the counties in which they re-
spectively reside, until the expiration of
their respective terms of Office. The
General Assembly shall provide by law
fOr'the election of all other Judges, and
those in Office will continue in office as
if this amendment were not made
The several Judges of the Courts Of
Common Pleas shall be authorized to sit
and hold the Court of Common Pleas in
any county in the judicial district in
which he may reside, and to perform
any and all acts in the absence or disa-
bility of the Judge of any county in said
district, which may be necessary for the
due administration of justice in any
proceedings in said courts. The Dis
trict Courts shall be the successors to
the present District Courts in the sever
al counties, and the Courts of Common
Pleas shall be the successors to the pres
ent Courts of Common Pleas and Pro-
bate Courts in the several counties; and
provision is made for the proper transfer
Of all matters, suits, proceedings, prose-
cutions, records andjudgements pending
or being in said courts. All Probate
! Courts are abrogated. .l.r-s-.rr