The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-20

To the Editor OF the Democrat:

10 the Editor OF the Democrat:
AS you invited discussion through your coll
| umns on the improvement OF the judiciary.
etc, take the liberty OF giving my views viz:
Age OF Judges not less than thirty years, and
| should have Dracticed law not less than five
years. Term of office not to exceed ten years.
and ineligibility for s,cond or succeeding
term. Supreme Court judges to be appointed
for life or during good behavior: all others tn
be elected. Tue appellate jurisdiction OF tha
Supreme Court should extend to all civil actions
where the amount involved exceeds $1,000 and
la criminal causes only VIII n the punishment
|, death or more than two years hard labor In
the State Penitentiary. La matters Of constitu-
tional law. etc, as provided by our present con-
The parish courts should be maintained and
their iurisdiction Increased. Tbey should be-
open toe whole year around from 10 a. m. to 4.
D. m.. legal holidays excepted. Give them con-
current jurisdiction Wi h istices OF the peace.
as now. Create court Of app ais or uu ,rter
sessions, with the parish judges Of from three to
five contiguous parishes. aud lot the court of
appeals hold its term for the transaction OF bus
iness every three months. Lot the Judgment Of
the parish court be- final In all civil actions not
exceeding $500. and la ALI criminal matters
days In the parish jail. Make The Judgment Of
the court OF appeals final In ali civil causes
where the amount involved does not exceed
$4,000. and 10 criminal cases wh-,e the punish.
meDt does not exceed two years hard labor In
the Penitentiary. In all criminal causes where
the punishment Is more than TWO years hard
labor the court VI appeals should have exclusive
original jurisdiction with the right 10 revise all
criminal matters made appealable from the
parish court.
The jurisdiction OF the parish court In civil
causes should be unlimited In all matters in
| excess Of $780,
In all civil matters Of dispute exceeding $500
and not exceeding s20t0 the appeal should be-
to the court of appeals and wnen the amount
In DIE pute s more than So 0D, the ap ,eal should
be direct to the Supreme Court. For the city
there should also be a court OF appeals, COM
posed Of say three judges. The pIalutlfY In all
civil causes should be required to give security
or deposit ii percentage Uf the amount clai ed,
TO cover COSTS OF his suit but Ia no case should
he be required TO pay more than 5000. And IL
he makes Oath that he Is unable to give security
or to nay the parce ptaRe. and that mis- aci lon is
bona fde and for the purpose Of obtaining JUS
tice, and not for the purpose Of hHrasSfng or
yexiDg the defendant. the judge should order
his suit 70 be filed aud all necessary orders to
be issued to protect hf- rights. The clerks and
sheriffs should be sHlaried and all fees or
costs should be paid into he public treasury.
The law regulating the percentage to bs paid
ahould be general. aud graduate according 70
the amount involved In the action. The off,
GERS OF courts should not be required to make
or serve any but papers emauaiing directly
from the Judge. All other papers light at the
Option OF the parties. be- served by themselves
or their attorneys. PEG.