, 1870-02-27
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 81, 1870.
ouR LOCAL JUDICIARY,

ouR LOCAL JUDICIARY.
In the proposed reorganization Of the
State Judiciary the courts Of this county
form distinct and separate feature. Cook
County is made one circuit, and the Circuit
Court is 10 consist Of four Judges, Of
whom the present Circuit Judge aud Re-
vordcr shall be two during the terms for
which they have been elected, and tuo
Other Judges are to be elected at the time
Of adopting the constitution. The Superior
Court is to be continued as at present Or
g.nizel One Judge may be added to
either the Circuit or Superior Court for
every $1,000 inhabitants oser $4,000.
Each Judge Of each court Is to have the
powers Of Circuit Judge. and to hold
separate branch Of the court Each Judge
z1d tie States Attorney is to receive
salary from the State equal to that paid to
The same officers in other parts OF the
6sste, and such other compensation ss may
by Law be paid to them by Cook County.
The Recorders Court is to be continued,
and to be called the Criminal Court Of
Cook County, having Jurisdiction Of all
criminal casea. The tetns Of said court to
be held By one or more Of the Judges Of
the Circuit OF Superior Courts, alternately
Tho present Clerks Of the Circuit, Superior,
and Recorders Courts are to coutinua IN
Office mill tho expiration OF then present
1er1ns, but hereafter there is to be bat one
Cjetk to the Superior Court. The Reoofdar
Of Deeds ia to be a separate Office. Ihe
Clerks Of all the courts, the Sheriff, Coro-
ncr. and Treasurer, are to be paid salaf1eSs
10 be fred by lax; bat the salary OF no
euch officer shall be as great as the oo1a~
repsatiou Of Judge Of the Circuit Court.
The courts ore to determine the number ot
assistants to each Clark, and the salary ct
zach shal, be fixed By Law. Al fees and
cmo1nmcnts shall be paid into the County
Treasury.
This is the plan for our local judiciary
which has been agreed upon by the corn
,,,itta~ OF tnc couyt.ntio-, -a no nnuet-
stand It Is generally acceptable to the bar.
The only part seriously objected to is the
continuance Of two courts Of concurrent
jurisdiction under different names. Sub,
s.antially, the Circuit and Superior Courts
will ba tho 6sme, and tho difference con-
aists Of having them technically divided
into two courts. Of different titles, md hav.
ing but one court. Though the division Of
the seven Judges into two courts, each
Judge being authorized to hold separate
court, may be nore technical than real, We
are Informed that it is preferred by the
bar. Such division OF the Judiciary is
Supposed to promote comuendable spirit
Of rivalry In upholding tbs learning, sbili-
ty, and standing OF the Courts,-inEoduc-
ing, as it were, the element OF
competition between them which can.
not exist between individual mem.
bern Of the same court. One Of the CHIEF
e1cellences Of court Is found in the de-
spatch Of business. De1ays and costs ID OBJ
tanning justice very Hoon attract public com.
ment and nnimadyerEion. Tha fast that Tx
establishment Of two courts o1 coneusreu
Jurisdiction is peculiar to this county hi
been objected to by persons residing i
other parts Of the State, on tho pies ths
there should be uniformity. But such uni
formity is not possible. In no other cis
cult than this, for many years to come, vi
shere be ersn two Judges required for civ
business, much less seven. Uniformii
having been destroyed in one particular,
can make little difference to the 1emai1
der Of the State whether the Judges sit G
one bench OF two, or any greater inumbe
There is another branch Of this -pla
which will strongly commend It to tbs PET
r1a of Chicacy, and that il tbs abolition ,