National Republican., 1875-09-10
THE PRISONER InENrIFIRn-
The Courts Of the District.

There is no community in the country more
amply provided with forums for the administra-
tion Of justice than are the people whom the
proyidences Of life have gathered around the
Capital in this District. There ought to be little
complaint Of a tardy administration OF justice
when 1t is recollected that there are here seven
courts Of record, two Of criminal and i've OF civil
Jurisdiction, and that It oftentimes happens that
six Of these courts are In session at the same
time. When to these are added the very large
number Of justices Of the peace, with jurisdlc-
tion in all civil cases where the amount involved
is less than one hundred dollars, Il must be ad-
mitted that the system seems extended enough
TO satisfy even the most extraordinary demands
upon 1t. Yet this is not the fact, as has been
heretofore shown in this paper.
peace, whose eriminsI Jurisdiction is limited to
the power Of issuing warrants returnable before
the Police Court. The Police Court has jurisdic.
ton to commit for the grand Jury ln OF felony
and to hear and determine sfl cases Of misds.
meanor, and all ofenses against the ordinances
ofthe District. The Criminal Court has general
criminal jurisdiction; hears all indictments for
felony, and although II has concurrent jurisdic-
tion with the Police Court in cases Of INSIDE
peal. district cases also come to the oriminsI
Court on appeal, and It has likewise jurisdiction
Of all criminal oenses against the statutes OF the
the last resort to tie Supreme Court Of the Dis.
trict in general term.
For civn cases The justices OF the peace have
In cases above i've dollars. IN cases involving an
amount less than $50 no suit can be brought IN
ns,cs ne nsss " n1Sss ~. In any form except that Of
tween $50 ana t10o writs may be brought before
justice of the peace or In the Criminal Court, at
t1e option OF the plaintiff. 80
The Circuit COURT has exclusive jurisdiction OF
all suits at law involving Q value crater than
tloo There all collection suits, ali suits Tor dam
ages. &C., are brought. Over one thousand cases
year are decided in this court. The docket Of
this court for the past two years shows entries OF
about four thousand suits many Of which, how
The Special Term takes jurisdiction Of all equity
cases, such as for the partition Of real estate
ceeds; to grant divorces; to settle accounts; to
correct mistakes and undo fraudulent transac-
tions; to subject estates 70 the payment OF debts
due number Of creditors; to grant iniunctions
and indeed to perform variety Of functions that
do not come within the remedies of some other
the Equity Court, We give the object Of the suits
brought this month IN that courts for partition: 10
restrain litigation and fraud; for an account Of
rent collected 10 subject real estate TO the judg
ments Of creators; for Injunction; to declare q
trust; for divorce; to vscste sale, and tochanx
cult Court Is not in session, grants Judgments By
default in law cases. :, -
The Probate Court takes Jurisdiction in all
and the District Court adjudiestss cases IN hank.
ruptcy and In admiralty. Three times year all
the judges hold court together for two or three
has been taken from the subordinate courts.
These terms are held on the FIRST Monday In jan
nary, the third Monday IN April and the fourth
It's sessions on the fourth Monday Of January, the
second Monday OF May and the third Monday Of
Octooerl and remains in session each time six or
nrst Mondsys Of March, June and September;
the District Court on the first Mondays OF June
an ano Decemoer, but transaots very little business
IN comparison with the other courts The next
session OF the Circuit Court will be held by Chief
Justice Cartier; the District Court Will Be held
py Judge Humphreys; the Criminal Court by
Judge Macarthur, and the Special Term and
Probate Court by Judge Olin. Among them All
there ought to be found aremedy for every wrong.