Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-07-31
2F1SS-TEIF % OLD FAMILY JOURNAL.

law. And, until otherwise provided by law,
such clerk as is mentioned in the twenty
sixth section OF this article, shall exercise
any powers and discharge any duties here
toiore conferred ON, or reqHired oil ny
court or tribunal established Tor judicial
purposes under the said article and section
Of the constitution Of one thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two, or the clerk oil sad
court or tribunal respectively, respecting
the recording and preservation OF deeds ana
other papers presented for record, matters
Of probate the appointment; and quallilca-
ton OF personal representatives., guardians
committees, curators and the settlement oil
their accounts, and in all matters relating
10 apprentices.
%. All actions, suits and proceedings not
embraced in the next preceding section,
pendine in 4 county court when this article
takes effect, together with the records ard
papers pertaining thereto as well Us all
records aud papers pertaining TO such ac-
tiops. suits and proceedings, rs have already
been disposed Of by said courts shall be
transmitted to and filed With the clerk OF
the circuit court OF the county 10 which
Office ali process outstanding at the time
this article goes into operation SHAH he
returned and said clerk shall have the
same power and shall perform the same
duties in relation 70 such records, papers
and proceedings as were vested IN and re-
quired OF the clerk Of the county court on
the dav before this article shall take effect.
Al such actions suits and proceedings so
ucuding as Aforesaid, shall be docketed,
PROCEEDED in, tried, heard and determined
in all respects by the circuit court, as II
said suits and proceedings had originated
in said court.
%. The voters OF each county shall elect
7 clerk Of the county court, whose term OF
Office shall be six years. Ills duties and
conversation, and the manner OF his re-
noval, shall be prescribed by law But
the clel ks of said courts, now in Office, shall
remaia therin for the term for wi ich they
nav have been elected, unless sooner re-
moved thcrelrom, in the manner prescribed
by law.
d. Each county shall be laid off into
districts, not less than three nor more than
ten in numbe and as nearly equal as may
BE- in territory and population. There shall
be elected in each district containing n
p1pulaiion not exceeding twelve hundred,
one Justice of the peace, and if tie popula-
ton exceeds that number two such justices
shall be elected therein. Every justice
shall reside in the district for which he was
elected. and hold his Office for term OF four
vaars. M less sooner removed in the manner
prescribed by law. The districts as they
now exist, hall remain ill changed by the
county court.
%. The civil juris LECTION OF a justice OF
the peace shall extend to actions OF assump-
sit debt, detinue and trover, if the amount
claimed. exclusive OF interest, does not ex-
coed three hundred dollars The jurisdic-
ton of justices Of the peace shall extend
throughout their county; they shall he
consgryators Of the peace, ard have such
jurisdiction and power in criminal eases AS
may be prescribed by law. And justices OF
the peace shall have authority to take The
acknowledgment OF deeds aud other writ
ings. administer oaths, and take AMI certify
dspositiors. And the legislature may give
10 justices such additional civil jurisdiction
and powers within their respective counties
as NAV be deemed expedicnt, under such
regulations and restrictions as may be
prescribed by general law, except that in
suits TO recover money or damages their
Jurisdiction and powers shall IN no case
exceed three uuuu4tu NVhaf0s -AtpS"iS
shall be allowed from judgments OF just ees
of the peace in such manner as may be
prescribed by law.
% The legislature shall upon the appli-
cation Of any county, reform, alter or
modify the county court established 10y this
article in such county, and in lea thereof,
with the assent OF Il majority OF the voters
o such county, voting al an election, create
o another tribunal for the transaction OF the
business required to he performed by the
county court created by this article; and in
such case, all the provisions Of this article
in relation to the county court shall be APP
plicaLle to the tribunal established in lieu
If said court. And when such tribunal has
been established, it shall continue to act in
lieu Of the county court until otherwise
proyid. by law.
80. The Office Of commissioner and JUS
tice of PEACE shall be deemed iccom-
p4tible. Vacancies in the Office OF COM
missioner, clerk of the county court and
justices q the peace shall be filled by the
tounty court Of the county until the next
la@oral election.
JoINr RESOLUTION pro- n amend