The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-08-13

CoLFAx, La, Aug. 10. 1880.

A New Judiciary Proposed.
CoLFAx, La, Aug. 10. 1880.
Editor Chronicle:
The present Judiciary system of
our State is singularly inconvenient
one. It would be hard to conceive
of one that would be more inconven-
lent to the people. The chief defects
of the present system are as follows:
The terms of court are 90 far apart
that justice is greatly delayed. Civil
cases hang on the docket. property is
seized and tied up for months under
sequestrstions or attachments, wit
nesses forget to appear. injunctions
are obtained and parties prevented
for months from doing things that
are necessary.
In criminal cases the delay is
longer. the hardship greater to in
nocent parties, and the criminals
chance to escape better. Under the
present system the most notorious
rascal in q parish may make an afii-
davit charging the best citizen with
felony, and the defendant must go
to Jail until the district Judge can be
reached and an order for bail OBJ
tanned. If the man arrested is poor
and has no friends be is obliged to
stay in jail until the next term Of
court The innocent man must rest
under an accusation for six months,
if not longer, until be can get trial,
and the guilty, by obtaining one or
two continuances. postpones his trial
for year. or until the public become
Indifferent whether be is punished or
not. The prisoner. unable to give
bail. must stay in Jail six months or
year, or even longer, and the jailer
must be paid so much per day for
feeding him.
The following system, / think,
would obviste most of the crying
evils of the present one, if not all,
and would be a far cheaper one:
F,rst-A supreme criminal court,
composed of two justices, at salary
of $4,000 each per year, with the
qualifications of The present suprems
justices. It's jurisdiction to extend
to appeals in all criminal cases where
the fine actually imposed exceeded
$50, or the Imprisonment exceeded
six months in the parish prison, or
confinement in the penitentiary for
any length of time, or death.
Second-A supreme civil. court, to
be composed Of four Justices, at
salary Of $4,000 each year, with the
qualifications Of the present supreme
justices. Its Jurisdiction to extend
to appeals in all civil cases where the
amount in controversy, or the fund
to be distributed, exceeds 500.
Third "A parish court in each
parish, to be held by a parish Judge,
(who shall be a lawyer Of four or Eve
years practice) at . salary of $4,000
per year. Its Jurisdiction in crimi-
nal matters to extend 70 ell crimes,
of every sort and degree, and in civil
matters to all sums, great or small.
Such judge to bold one regular term
per month, and as many special
terms as occasion may require.
Fourth-In each parish q parish
attorney, at salary of $500 per
year and thirty per cent of all fines
and forfeitures collected.
FVth-Abolish the Office of Justice
of the peace and confer upon the
member OF the police jury in each
ward the power to take afidavits
and issue warrants of arrest in crimi-
nal cases, such warrants to be re-
turnable before the parish Judge,
who is to hold the examining courts
for the parish. OF. it it is consider
ed more expedient. merge the Offices
Of justice of the peace and police ju-
ror, and give him criminal jurisdic-
ton as above, and civil Jurisdiction
to the amount of $25.
Below I give two tables showing
the costs of the two systems:
PRESENT sYsrxN.
rive oupHouc JuoBcS 8L~. SOOOO 9SOsOUV
Ten Circuit Judges :. -. 1000 4O, 900
Twenty-six Dist. Judges. 1900 7s,OO0
Twenty-six Dist. Atty's.. 1000 $4,000
Total -...--.--.. &l69, 900
PROPOSED SYSTEM.
Two Supreme Grim. Judges 5000 $4,000
Four Supreme Civil Judges 5000 10000
Fifty-seven Parish Judges $500 1000
Fifty. seven Parish Atty's 300 17,1O0
Total. e169, 600
Excess in cost of proposed system, 80 800
The excess in cost would be far
more than balanced by the expedi-
ton Of justice, the interest on the
value of eequestered and attached