The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-07-26
The Constitutional Convention
Articles adopted since our last
JUDICIARY DEPARTMENT.

report:
JUDICIARY DEPARTMENT.
The judicial power snail be vested
in q supreme court, the courts of
appeal, in district courts, and in
justices of the peace.
The esupreme court, except in
cases hereinafter provided, shall
have appellate jurisdiction only,
which jurisdiction shall extend to
all cases when the matter in dis
pute,, or the fund to be distributed,
whatever may be the amount there
i'm claimed, shall exceed one thou
sand dollars, exclusive of costs; to
suits for divorce and separation
from bed and board, and to all
cases in which the constitutionality
or legality of any tax, tollor impost
whatsoever, or of any fine, forfeit
ure or penalty imposed by a muni-
cipal corporation shall be in con-
testation, whatever may be
the amount thereof; and in such
cases the appeal on the law and
facts shall be direct from the court
in which the case originated to the
supreme court; and to criminal eases
on questions of law alone, when
ever the punishment of death or
Imprisonment at hard labor may be
inflicted, or a fine exceeding $500
is actually imposed.
The supreme court shall be com
posed of one chief justice and four
associate justices, majority OF
whom shall constitute "a quorum.
The chief justice and associate
justices shall each receive salary
of five thousand dollars per annum,
payable monthly on their own war
rants. They shall be appointed by
the governor by and with the ad-
advice and consent of the senate.
The first supreme court TO be
organized under this constitution
shall be appointed as follows: The
chief justice for the term OF twelve
years, one associate jnstice for the
term Of ten years, one for the term
Of eight years, one for the term OF
SIX wears, and one for the term of
four years; and the governor shall
designate in the commission of
each the term for which such judge
is appointed.
La case of death. resignation or
removal from Office of any of said
Judges, the vacancy shall be filed
by appointment for the uuexpired
term Of such judge, and upon ex-
piration OF the term of any OF said
| Judges, the office shall be Eled by
appointment for a term of twelve
years.
They shall be citizens of the
| United States and of the State,
over thirty-fye years of age, learned
in the law, and shall have prac-
ticed law in this State for ten years
preceding their appointment.
The State shall be diyiaed into
four supreme court districts, and
the supreme court shall always be
composed ofjudges appointed from
said districts.
The parishes of Orleans, ST.
John the Baptist, st. Charles, st.
Bernard, PlaquemlDe and Jeffer-
son shall compose the first district,
from which two judges shall be
appointed.
The parishes of Caddo, Bossier,
Webster, Blepyille, Claiborne.
Union. Lincoln, jackson, Caldwell,
Ouaclita, Morehouse, RichlaDd,
Franklin, West Carroll, East Car
roll, Madison. Tensas and Cata-
boula shall compose the second
district, from which one judge shall
be appointed.
The parishes of De Soto, Red
River, Winp. Grant. Natchitocbes.
Sabine, Vernon, Calcasieu, Came
ron, Rapides, AyoyelIes, Concor-
dia, Point Conpee, West Baton
Rouge, Iberyjlle, st, Landry, Laf-
ayette and VermilioD shall COM
pose the third district, from which
one Judge shall be appointed.
And the parishes of st. Martin,
Iberia, ST. Mary, Terrebonne, La
fourcbe, Assumption, st. James,
East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana,
West Feiiciana, st Helena, Liy-
iDgston. Tangipaboa, St Tam
many and Washington shall COM
pose the fourth district, from
which one judge shall also be APP
pointed.