Evening star., 1896-10-31

well as laymen. In spite of this, however,
there stems ~ be cu4siieriDle ignorance
about the courts of the District. General
ly it is known. for instance, that there is
a Police Court, also that there Is a Crim-
inal Court anu a Circuit Cour., as well as
an Equity Court. Than, too, some know
that there Court of Appeals and
Probate Court. also a District Court. but
very few people know ,he respective pow
ers and authority of those tribunals. Ard,
1t can safely be said, fewer still have more
than a faint. general idea Of the manner
in which proceedings IN the various courts
of the District are conducted.
The judicial system of the District IS
made up of the Police Court, the Supreme
Court and the Court of Appeals. In addi-
tion to those tribunals, there are a num-
Der of justices courts presided over by
Justices of the peace. The Supreme Court
of the District is divided in equity, circuit,
criminal. probate and district branches. as
we'll as a Court in General Term. Then, the
equity. circuit and criminal business of the
court is again divided into two courts in
each of those three branches. Hence. the
Supreme Court of the District, as arranged
at present, is really composed of the Court
in General Term, Equity Courts Nos. and
g Circuit Courts Nos. 1 and 2. Criminal
Courts Nos. 1 and 2, the Probate or Or
phans' Court and the District Court-nine
trict Supreme Court consists of Chief
justice and five associate justices. and that
of the Court of Appeals of a chief justice
and two associate Justices.
Justices of the Peace.
The inferior courts of the District that
is the most inferior in jurisdiction and
power, are those presided over by the
Justices of the peace A justice of the
peace, while authorized to issue warrants
4
served by police officers. cannot sit in such
cases, except when appointed by the
Criminal Court judge pro tempore of
the Police Court, and only when judge
of the latter court is absent from the
bench. So it is that District justices of
the peace can only hear civil cases. That
is. cases instituted for the recovery of real
or personal property. or for the recovery
of damages But the amount in cOntro-
yersy must not exceed $780, If 1t does then
the case can only be tried in the proper
branch of the District Supreme Court.
But where the amount sued for is not less
than s1U0 and does not exceed $500, the
party filing the suit, who is termed in law
the plaintiff, may file it either before a
Justice of tine peace or in the Supreme
Court of the District. And where the
amount in controversy before a justice of
the peace is not less than s. the right of
trial by jury is given.
From the Judgment of justice of the
peace appeal lies to the District Su-
preue Court. That is, wherever either
party to suit before such justice is dis
satisfied with the result of the trial, the
dissatisfied party, plaintiff or defendant,
can. on appeal, carry the case to the cir
cult branch Of the District Supreme Court.
There the disposition of the case is final.
Until recently, however, 1t was held that
where the trial before the justice of the
peace was had before a jury no appeal
could be taken. But Judge Cox several
weeks ago reversed that ruling, one which
had stood for years. So. unless the Court
Of Appeals reverses Judge Cox, appeal will
He in every case before a justice of the
peace.
The Police Court.
The Police Court not only has two judges,
but it may also be said to have two
branches, District and United States
branch. That is. the court has jurisdic-
tion not only over offenders against the
District strictly municipal ordinances
and regulations. but also In certain in
stances over those violating the laws of
the United States For instance, a person
charged with profanity or disorderly con-
duct is triable in the District branch Of
the court for violating a municipal law or