The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-18
THE JUDICIARY SYSTEM.


THE JUDICIARY SYSTEM.
TO the Editor Of the Democrat:
In the interest Of general discussion, SUD-
NIT a scheme Of judiciary reform WHICH, y
not suggestiveof striking originality at least
apppars to me to be step toward the slmpii-
fication of our present system. H. Ill IL.
Au, 70 The judiciary power shall be vest
al In d Supreme Court and In parish courts.
Arr "a The Supreme Court. except In cases
hereinafter provided, shall have appellate
jurisdiction only, which lntlsalctloh snail ex-
shall exceed $500, and to all cases In which
The constitutionality or legality OF any tax.
tnlj or jmpost of any kind or nature whatSo-
ever, or any fine, forfeiture on penalty, I'M
nosed by q municipal corporation, shall be In
condensation. whatever may be the amount
thereof aid IL stieh eases the appeal shall he
direct from the court in which the case ORR
ginated to the Supreme Court; and to all
criminal cases on questions OF law Alone
whenever the Otfense charged 1s punishable
with death, OF imprisonment at hard labor,
or when fine exceeding $500 Is actually i'm
posed. g.
nosed of one chief justice and six associate
Justices, majority Of whom shall constitute
q quorum. The chief justice. shall receive
salary of $500, and each Of the associate
Quarterly on their own warrants. The chief
Justice and the associate justices shall be ap-
Dointed by the Governor, with the advice and
Consent OF the Senate, for the term of four
teen years; when the trst appointments are
made under this constitution the chief JUS
flee shall be appointed torfourteen years, one
of the associate justices for twelve years, one
for ten years. one for eight years, one FOR SIX
4 years, one for four years and one Tor two
years; and in the event OF the death, resig-
= nation or removal of any OF said judges be-
fore the expiration Of the period for which he
was appointed, his successor shall be appoint
ed only for the remainder OF this term; 50
that the term of service OF no two OF said
Judges shall expire at the same time.
The chief Justice and associate justices
shall be citizens OF the United States, and
shall have plaeticed law for ten years, the
last five thereof next preceding their appoint
ment In the State The court shall appoint
Its own clerks and may remove them at
pleasure.
preme Court, organized under the constltu-
fion Of 1868. shall form and compose COM
mission to hear and decide the causes now
accumulated On the docket Of that court; said
commission to exist for two years from and
after the adoption OF this constitutions; the
ting i'm commission to be performed and exer-
cised Id conformity with the articles Of the
constitution of 1868, regulating the duties,
functions and powers OF the Supreme Court;
removal of any of said jugdes before the ex-
piration OF the term aforesaid, successor
shall he appointed for the remainder OF his
term.
ART Vs. The Supreme Court shall hold Its
sessions in the city New Orleans from the first
Monday in the month Of November TO the end
OF the month Of June.
ART. IT, Unchanged.
ART. 49, Unchanged.
ART. TO- Unchanged.
ART. SO. Unchanged.
ART. 81. Unchanged.
ART. 49, Unchanged.
ART. 50. Eor each parish IN the State there
shall be one parish court, except in the parish
of Orleans, in which the General Assembly
may establish as many parish courts as the
public interests may require Until otherwise
provided there shall be seven parish courts
for the parish OF Orleans, with the following
original jurisdiction The first exclusive Grim
inaI Jurisdiction: the second, third, fourth,
fifth, sixth and seventh exclusive original
concurrent jurisdiction In all civil cases. ex.
cept that all SUGGESTIONS shall be opened
and administered exclusively In the second
There shall be elected for each parish court
by plurality Of the qualified electors Of said
parish, a judge who shall be citizen 81 tbs
United States and shall have practiced law
for five years next preceding his appointment
In the State. Said judges shall each receive
an annual salary Of $4,000, except In the par
ish of Orleans, the judges whereof shall re-
ceive an annual salary OF $4,000.
The Judges OF said parish court shall hold
their Office for the term of fourteen years,
but when the first elections are held under
this constitution the judges OF the first,
second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and
seventh parish courts for the parish Of Or
leans, shall respectively be elected for two,
-four, six, eight, ten, twelve and fourteen
years; and in the event of the death, resig-
nation or removal Of any OF said judges be-
fore the expiration OF the period for which he
was appointed, his successor shall be appoint
J. ed for the remainder of this term, SO that the
term of service of no two OF said judges for
the parish of Orleans shall expire at the
same time.
ART 81. Said parish courts other than those
for the parish OF Orleans, shall have I'M
limited civil and criminal jurisdiction Said
parish courts, except in the parish of Orleans,
shall hold monthly sessions, beginning on
the first Monday of each and every month
aud in the parish Of Orleans, said parish
courts shall hold three sessions in the city of
New Orleans from the first Monday of No
yember to the fourth of July, except the first
parish court for the parish1of Orleans, which
shall be open throughout the year, and the
second parish court for the parish Of Or
leans which, beside the term of the other
courts having concurrent jurisdiction with it.,
shall remain open from the fourth OF July to
the first Monday in November, solely for the
transaction OF probate business.
ART. So. The clerks Of all said supreme and
parish courts shall be appointed by the
Judges thereof, and removed by them at
pleasure, and they shall receive such salaries
as the Legislature may determine: all fees
and costs Of said courts to be paid into the
trea sury for the use the State.
THE WHITE LADY.