The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-30
NEW COURT OF JUSTICE.
4 aIIE 10 nm PRESENTED 10 THE
LEGISLATURE.
The ehnneery and Circuit Courts OF RICH
mond We're Established When THIS
city Wa. only Half It's Present Size.

Mr.. James Lyons from the city.
The, report OF tsc committee appointed
= = former meeting 70 prepare a bill
establishing a new court in this city was
presented.
Mr.. James Lewis Anderson. chairman
NJ the committee. explained the intent and
r,rpose Of the bill. and the subject was
thoroughly discussed by Messrs. Bcy. T.
c,,,rop Charles v. Meredith, W. J. Leake
81, \ Christian b. III. Nash. a. X.
C,,rtncv HW Montague. James Caskie'
t.6,,,rd Waddm. and Eugene G. Massie.
r,,nc report Of the committee was unahi-
,oo,sly adopted. and on notion the Chair
.t,,.d a committee OF seven, with
~ ,.-.,.1ert "a an ex-Ofilcio member, TO
lent he bin 90 the legislature
any, ,urpoee Of ne new court IS 90
..,,o.. tbe prossure Of business in the
,,ts,oerv and Circuit Courts OF tins CITY,
.rt.h were established twenty-three
,'1.rs AGO. when The city was just one
isr lis present size. II was shown In
tFo discussion that the dockets OF these
,o5rfs arc 80 crowded that 81 IS almost
impossible 90 set "A case set for a par
fIr,lfar day and that the business inter-
delay: that speedier justice is needed
in IT'S affairs and that the judges o. those
Two courts. who are men Of marked
ability and the finest qualifications for
the positions. are unable 90 promptly
dispose OF all the business seeking these
tribunals.
The Bin.
The bin Is entitled. - bill to establish
of a.
city. defining Sc Jurisdiction and relations
Co me courts Of said city.
Whereas II iB necessary for the admin
fsfrdtlon of Justice 90 establish an aodl-
topsl court for the city Of Richmond
D. pc BE- craCtcd by the General Assem-
bis Of Virginia that there shall be es-
tabhshcd for the city Of Richmond,
court 20 be- called the law and Equity
court Of Richmond city, 10 be held by
Judge with like qualifications OF judges OF
circuit courts. who SHAH be chosen by the
ioint vote Of the two houses Of the General
Assembly, and shall hold his office for a
term of six years.
g. The said Law and Equity Court shall,
within the corporate limits OF the by OF
Richmond. have original jurisdicticl con-
current with the Chancery Court Of the
city of Richmond, 90 hear and determine
AN suits and proceedings which are
c0gn.zable by law i'm the Chancery Court
OF the city Of Richmond. except the pro-
bate ana recordation Of wills, the APP
pOintment and qualification OF fduciaries,
save when Il may become necessary 10
appoint fduciary in the progress Of a
suit pending in said court, the eX-parte
settlement OF their accounts. the docketing
of judgments. the reCotdation, in the
node prescribed by law. OF deeds and
nfIar rana~e aufTprfyoT or rpuufred nv
Jaw TO be recorded; and shah. within the
same limits have original jurisdiction.
concurrent with the Circuit Court of the
city Of Richmond Of all such causes,
motions, matters and things, as are cognlz-
able by law lu the Circuit Court of the
city Of Richmond. except an such suits.
notions prosecutions. matters and things
as are specially coenizable by the Circuit
Court OF the city OF Richmond or the
Judge thereof under chapters thirty.
thirty-one, thirty-two. one hundred
and nfty-seven. ard two-hundred and
four. aud section thirty-f0ur-hundred and
thiriy-two, OF the Code Of 1887.
and an statutes now In force
or which may be hereafter enacted,
dcyolving any duty or conferr-
ing any power or jurisdiction upon the
circuit courts of tins Commonwealth, or
the judges thereof respectively, shall he
construed as embracing the Law and
Equity Court of Richmond city and the
Judge thereof respectively except as 10
matters OF criminal jurisdiction.
The said Law and Equity Court and the
judge thereof respectively, shah have the
same power as a circuit court or
circuit Judge 10 admit bah and award
and the same jurisdiction OF
proceedings by writ of habeas corpus,
writ OF quo warranto or information IN
the nature OF a writ OF quo warranto, writ
OF mandamus. and writ Of prohibition;
and appeals and writs of error and OF
superseGeas from and 60 orders, DEGREES
and Judgments OF the said Law and
Equity Court shall be taken and allowed.
as If they were from and TO those OF
a circuit court or OF a circuit Judge
O. The said Law and Equity Court shall
hold four terms a year beginning on
the second Monday in February. May.
September. and December and continu-
ing so long as the business before the
court may require: provided that the
first term Of the said Law and Equity
Court shall begin on the second Monday
IN the month succeeding the month In
which this act takes effect
Toe ouri Ofnc.rs.
4. The sheriff Of the city Of Richmond
Equity Court. shall attend the same. do
and perform the duties, have and ex-
crcisc the powers. receive the cOmpensa-
ton. and be liable 10 the penalties OF a
sherih In relation 10 a circuit court.
lhere shall bee g. clerk of said Law and
Equity court who shall be appointed or
erected IN the mode, at the time and for
the saine term, prescribed by the law
Tor The appointment or election Of the
clerk OF the Circuit Court Of the city of
Richmond, and be shall perform sinilar |
uutes, be liable TO the same penalties
ana be governed by the same general |
laws as a clerk Of q circuit court ana |
receive IKE fees and emoluments ana The |
same compensation as the clerk of the /
1utt N"urt OF the city Of Richmond: /
ana me Judge OF said Law and Equity /
sn"h appoint clerk, who shall /
'"u oniCe uhui such election next sue
.eeding the passage OF this act
The rules IN the clerks Office ~ ,ha |
aid Law and Equity Court shall he hold /
n the same manner and governed ~. tba |
anne general laws, as rules IN = circ,,i,
curt are or may hereafter be held or
governed.
D. The salary OF the judge Of said Law
and Equity Court shall be the same as
he salary Of the Judge OF the Chancerv
'ourt Of the city Of Richmond. and shall |
le payable at the same time and from /
DE same sources
Mater 81 Jurisdiction.
3. The said Chancery Court and the said
ircuit Court, or either Of them. may. for
ood cause shown, or TO equalizs the work
q said courts with said Law and Equity
curt remove 20 said Law and Equity
curt any case or cases pending respec-