, 1878-09-01
ARTICLE. VIII.
JUDICIARY.

eQulIy, snhll ne NPSIeN III cupIc"0
Court, Circuit Courts, Probate Courts,
justices of the Pcac, and such inferior
municipal courts MS mny be provided by
law.
Sec. 2. The court for the trial of i'm
peachments shall be composed of the
Senate. The House OF Representatives,
shall have the power of impeaching all
the civil officers OF the State for corrupt
con,uct in office, or for crimes and mis-
dcmeanors; but the majority of all the
members elected shall concur in an i'm
pcachment. On the trial of an impeach
ment against the governor, the Chief
Justice Of the Supreme Court shall pre-
side. No judicial officer shall exercise
his office after he shall he impeached nm
til his acquital Before the trial of an I'M
peachmcrt the members of the court
shall take an oath or affirmation truly
and impartially to try the impeachment
according to the evidence, and no person
shall be convicted without the concur
renee Of two.thirds of the members elect.
ed. judgement, in cases of impeach.
ment, shall not extend further than re-
moval from office, or removal from office
and disqualification to hold any Office of
| honor, profit or trust under the State:
but this shall not prevent the officer
from being prosecuted and punished in
the courts according to law.
Sec. 3. The Supreme Court except in
cases otherwise provided IN this Consti-
tuition shall have appellate jurisdiction
on all chancery causes, aud jurisdiction
| in all actions ut law, civil and criminal,
upon wnts of error, which shall be CO.
extensive with the limits OF the State.
but in no case removed to the Supreme
Court, shall trial by jury be allowed.
The Supreme Court shall have general
suk=ntending control over all inferior
courts unoer such regulations and limi
tations as may be prescribed by law; it
shall have the power to issue writs of
haheas corpus. mandamus, injunction,
quo warranto, certiorari. and other orig
inal and remedial writs, and to hear and
determine the same.
Sec. 4. For the term OF four years
and thereafter, until the Legislature shall
otherwise provide, the judges Of the sev.
eral Circuit Courts shall be er Qficio
Judges Of the Supreme Court, majority
of whom shall constitute quorum; and
the concurrence of a majority Of the judi
gcs present snail be necessary to a decis-
ion; provided, that in the event the court
shall be equally divided in opinion, the
cause shall be continued for reargument;
and if upon re.argument the court shall
be again equally divided in opinion the
| judgement below shall be affirmed. The
Legislature shall have power, after the
| expiration Of said term, 10 provide by
law for the organization OF a separate
Supreme Court, with the jurisdiction and
powers prescribed by this Constitution;
to consist of one Chief Justice and two
Associate Justices, to be appointed by
the Governor, by and with the advice
and consent ot the Senate The separate
Supreme Court, when so organized, shall
not be changed or discontinued by the
Legislature; the judges thereof shall he
so classified that but one shall 90 out of
Office Mt the same time; md their terms OF
office shall he the same as is provided for
| the judgca of the Circuit Courts.
| Sec. 8. The State shall be divided
into three judicial circuits, to be compos
| ed as follows: The first circuit shall com
prise all that portion of the State lying
east the of summit of The Cascade noun
tains, except the county of Klickitat
The second circuit shall comprise the
counties of Clehalis, Clarke, Cowltz,
Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Skama-
MIA, Thurston, and Wahkiakum.
Sec .. The Legislature may alter the
limits or increase the number of circuits,
making them as convenient and compact
as practicable, and bounding them by
county lines; but no such alteration or
increase shall have the effect to remove
judge from Office.
In case OF an increase OF circuits, the
Judge or judges slisll be elected as pro