, 1874-09-06
LAW REF0RM IN ENGLAND,

| In August, 1873, the Parliament OF England
| passed IN ''Act for tho Constitution Of Su-
! preme Court, and for other purposes relating to
| the administration of justice in England" This
Is to take effect On the LIST OF November, 1874,
| and will accomplish C. revolution in the entire
| judicial system OF England. The American Eys-
tenn was, in the beginning, 3 copy OF tue En-
gliah. From the foundation ct our Government
to tho present day thoro has been 4 constant
struggle to modcr1ize the practice Of the courts
and the changes that ha7o been rando, not being
| radical but simply patchwork, have really
wrought confusion instead Of amendment. The
English system has worked admirably and har-
moniously as system; all its parts wero consist
ent. That eyBtem Was the work of centuries, and
the code Of practice and pleading hes furnished
thcrncs for tho ablcst commentators and the
most distinguished Judges. The law and its
practice, and tho wonderful variety Of forms
OF action, and tho nico-y of tbs distinctions,
have furnished literature which ranks among
the highest in the EngGsh tongue. The do
nand for reform has, however, beon lorg and
persistent, and ct last has found IN answcr in
what is known as the Supreme Judicature act Of
1873. Tho present System includes:
l. The Judicial Committee Of tho Priry Coun-
Gil which is mposod OF persons who hold tho
place r of7cio.
2. The High Court Of Chancery. This Court
has several divisions: (a,) The Court OF Appeals
in Chancery, with two Judges. o. The Vice
Chancellors' Courts, three in number. (c.) Tho
Master OF tho Rolls Court, ono Judge. Tho
cost Of these Courts, with all their CLERKS 1egis-
trars, examiners, etc., is Etc, ,202 year.
8. Court OF Queens Bench. Ono Chief Justice
and four Puisno Justices
l. Court OF Common Pleas. One Chief JUS
tice and six Pui6no Justices.
+. Tho Court Of E3chequer. One Lord Chief
Baron and fire Puis1o Barons.
6. Court OF Probate, Divorce, and Matrimonial
Causes. Ono Judge.
Z. Admiralty md Ecclesiastical Courts, con-
sisting OF ono Judge in Admiralty aad eovc1a1
Judges in tho various branches.
8. Court Of Bankruptcy. Oue Judge.
Tho other courts Of Eng1and arc local, con-
eisting Of City Courts, Courts Of Burscsses,
County Courts, Police Courts, Session Courts.
Criminal Courts. etc.
Tho eight courts frat mentioned are, under
tho new net, to bo consolidated into single
court. with two grand divisions. Tho first Of
these is to be styled 81 Her Majcsty's High Court
Of JUSTICE" and the other 8" Hor Majestys Court
Of Appeals" Tho High Court Of Justice is to bo
composed OF the Lord Chancellor, Lord Chief
Justice, Master of tho Rolls, Cllicf Baron Of tho
Exchequer. tue Vice Chancello1s, the Puisno
Judges Of the Queens Bench and COM
mon Pleas, Judge Of the Court OF Pro-
bate and Divorce, and the junior Barons
Of the E1chequer Court. The Lord Chancellor
is to preside, ard in his absence the Chief Jur-
tico Of England. Theac Judges arc transferred
from their present conrts, which arc abolished,
to this Court, and all future appointments aro to
be made a. Justices OF Her HajcstJ's High
Court Of Justico,--though the titles Of Lord
Chief Justice Of England, Master of the Rolls,
Lord Chief Justice Of Common Pleas, and Chief I
Baron. are to DO zet2ipod. All the Judges are to !
havo equal Jurisdiction and authority; tho per-
manent number OF Judges OF thia Court is to To |
twenty-one-
Tho Court Of Appeal Tiu consist Of nine |
Judges, to be appointed, together With tho Lord !
Chancellor, the Lo>d Chief Justice, Master OF tho
Rolls, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and |
Lord Chief Baron, who aro to bo members of |
this Court er~o1icio. To this Court IS among iss /
first members gro transferred the present Judges
Of Appeal in Chancery and some others. Tho
ahIary Of the Lord Cbanceuaz is to DO 10000,
Master OF the Rolls, $4,000; Chief Justice OF
England, Es.000; and Chief Justice OF Common
Pleas and Chief Baron, E7, 600 each The sa1a-
-ies OF all tho other Judges aro to bo 81, 900
ZACH
Tho high Court ct Justice will exercise all
he Jurisdiction Of the present courts Of law.
The Court OF Appeal will have the Jurisdiction |
II ths preeent Court OF Appeals IN chancorr
md in bankruptcy. and OF appeals from the /.
ri