The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-08
REORGANIZATION OF THE JUDI
CIARY.
To the Editor Of the Democrat:

To the Editor Of the Democrat:
The most important, difficult and delicate
subject which presents itself to the Constitu-
tional Convention, is the reorganization of our
judiciary system. It is necessarily expensive,
because its prompt and efficient operation
must DO directed by men Of the highest IN
tegrity, learning and ability. and lifted 1or
the task by peculiar and arduous training
The services Of such men are not to be had
cheaply Honor, life, liberty and property
are the solemn subjects submitted to the wise
discretion and CONSCIENTIOUS decision o.
| courts: subjects Of import too grave to every
citizen, from the humblest to the highest, to
| be com mitted, from motives OF immediate
| economy, to cheap and incompetent men.
The salary OF judge should be proportioned
| tn the responsibility of his position, and COM
| nensurate with the wisdom and ability
requisite for the discharge Of MS functions.
| The state must save expense In this d1rec-
ton by d Identification Of the system and d
proper adjustment Of the labors imposed, to
the end that justice may be- speedily adj
| ministered by the fewest number OF tribu-
nails, presided over by competent and well
| paid judiciary.
Through your columns, ! ask leave to sub
nit the following suggestions trusting that
discussion will polish their roughness, and
ADLER thinkers shape them into symmetry:
| Chief Justice and six associate justices, to be
appointed by the Governor with the advice
and consent of the Senate. Require that each
member of the court shall be q citizen of the
| United States and Of this State, and shall
have practced law In this State for ten years.
Give to the chief and associate justices each
a salary OF $4,000 annually payable on their
own warrants quarterly. Make their terms
of office for life or during good behavior. In
addition to the Jurisdiction conferred by the
/ M
/ parchment for the trial Of charges against
district judges and justices Of the peace. 30
alter Its appellate jurisdiction that 1t may
take cognizance of all civil suits in the parish
OF Orleans where the amount involved ex-
eeeds $500, exclusive OF interest, and in the
| other parishes where the amount involved
exceeds $1,000 exclusive of interest. Abolish
the parish courts and increase the number of
district courts. providing that the number Of
districts shall not exceed the number OF par
| ishes, and fixing for the present such number
as the necessity OF convenience OF the present
may require. Let the district Judge have
original Jurisdiction in all civil and probate
/ cHuses where the amount involved exceeds
500, exclusive OF interest and appellate juris-
diction from the justice Of the peace courts
when the amount involved exceeds $25. Fix
the salary Of the district Judge at $4,000, pay
able quarterly on his own warrant; require
that he shall be citizen of the United States
and Of this State, and shall have practiced
law In this State for tive years. The judges
should be appointed by the Governor, with
the advice and consent Of the Senate, and
hold their offices for twenty years.
Divide the State into seven circuits, com
posed Of SO many districts. Of contiguous
parishes, as to equalize the judicial labor OF
the circuits; then provide that the Chief
Justice and Associate Justices of the SUI
preme Court shall be allotted among the cir
cults by an order Of court, and a new allot-
ment shall be made whenever it Is necessary
or convenient, by reason Of the alteration 81
any circuit, or otherwise.
During the MONTHS from June to November
inclusive require the chief and associate JUS
tees to hold court In each parish Of the cir
with appellate jurisdiction only iE all civil
cases where the amount involved exceeds
5000 exclusive OF interest and the conclu.
sions Of the court will be greatly expedited.
the direct appeal to the Supreme Court. the
suggestions offered do not, of course, apply
to the parish of Orleans. I'M"