The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1896-02-26
M 1o7 JOIyT RESOLUTION.


Proposing amendments to Articles I, 81,
100 III, JIG, Ia, 126 and l27. and
abrogatin2 Articles l2S and l29 OF
the Constitution Of the State OF
Louisiana.
Section /. BE il resolved Ivy the General
Assembly Of the State of louisiana, two
thirds of all the members elected to each
house concurrirg that article seven 81 Of
the Constitution Of the State Of LOUISIANA
be so amended as to read as follows:
Article Z. In all criminal prosecutions
the accused shall enjoy the right to
speedy public trial by an impartial jury
of the parish wherein the ohense shall
have been committed, except III cases OF
change Of venue; provided, that in cases
where the penalty il not necessarily I'M
prisonmcut at hard labor, or death the
General Assembly shall provide for trial
thereof before jury Of six IN number or
bv the court at any regular or speciai
term.
Sec. 9. Be it further resolved, etc,
That article 81 Of the Constitution OF the
State of Louisiana shall be so amended
as to read as follows:
Article 81. The Supreme Court, except
in cases hereinafter provided, shall have
appellate jurisdiction only, which juris
diction shall extend 10 all cases when the
matter in dispute or the fund to be dis
tributed, whatever may be the amount
therein claimed, shall exceed two thous-
and dollars, exclusive of interest, to suits
for divorce and separation from bed and
board, to suits for the nuilty Of marriage,
10 suits involving the rights Of home
steads, to suits for Introduction, md to
all cases arising under the Constitution,
Treatise and Laws OF the United States,
or under the Constitution of the State,
and to all cases in which the COnstltu-
tiopality or legality OF any tax, toll or
impost whatever, or any tine, forfeiture
or penalty imposed by . municipal cor
poration shall be in condensation, or in
which the legality Of COSTS fees, charges
or allowances shall be in dispute, what
soeyer may be the amount thereof; and
in such cases the appeal on the law and
the facts shall be directly from the court
in which the case rig:nated TO the Su-
preme Court; and to criminal cases on
questions of Inv alone whenever the pun
ishment of death or imprisonment at hard
labor may be inflicted, or n tine exceed
ing three hundred dollars is actually i'm
posed. The Supreme Court shall have
original exclusive jurisdiction in al mat
tiers touching professional misconduct OF
members Of the bar, with power to dsbar,
and intlict such other punishment rs may
be provided by law. The General AS
sembly shall enact laws to enforce the
foregoing provisions.
Sec. g. BE it further resolved, etc.
That article one hundred and nine of
the Constitution of the State of Louisiana
be so amended ~ to read as follows:
Article 100. The District Courts shall
have original jurisdiction in all matters
civil, probate and crimi.nl not vested i'll
the Supreme Court or exclusively in some
other court BY the Constitution and laws
made in pursuance thereof. They shall
have unlimited original Jurisdiction i'll ali
criminal, probate aud succession mat
tiers, and Shen succession is a party
defendant. The district judges shall DC
elected BY plurality OF the qualified rot-
ers Of their respective districts, in which
they shall have been actual residents for
two years next proceeding their election
They shall be learned in the law, and
\ shall have practiced law III the State for
n Gys SeSrs previous to their election. They
shall be elected for the term 81 four years
All elections &c fiji. vacancies occasioued
by death, resignation or removal, shall
be for the uneXpired term, and the Gov
crnor shall fill the vacancy until an cleo
ton can be held. The judges of the dis
trict court Shall each receive IL salary of
three thousand dollars per annuin, paya-
bic monthly on their respective warrants
Sec. 1. Be it further resolved, etc.,
That article one hundred aud eleven Of
the Constitution Of the State of Louisiana
be SO amended as to read as follows, -
Article III. The District Courts shall
have jurisdiction of appeals from justices
of the peace in all civil matters regardless
of the amount in dispute
Sec. 8. Be il further resolved, etc,
That Article one hundred and twenty
five of the Constitution of the State. Of
Louisiana be SO amended ns to r-ad az
follows:
Article l2J. Ia each parish, the parish
of Orleans excepted, there shall be- as
many justices of TIE peace IS may be
provided by law. The present number
of justices of the peace shall remain as
now fixed until otherwise provided. They
shall be elected for the terurAof four
years by the qualified voters within the
territorial limits of their jurisdiction, and
their qualifications shall be fixed by law.
They shall have exclusive original juris-
dictiOn in all civil matters when the
amount in dispute shall not exceed fifty
dollars. exclusive of interest and original
jurisdiction concurrent with the District
Court. when the amount i'll dispute shal!
exceed fifty dollars exclusive OF interest.
and shall not icy ceed one hundred
dollars exclusive OF interest They
shall have TO jurisdicti n in I'll eefs:ou OF
probate n alters, or whom a succession is q
defendant, or when the State or any par
ish is party. They shall receive such
fees in civil matters a. may lie fixed by
law.
Sec 6. Be it further resolved etc.
That Article one hundred and twenty six
of the Constitution Of the State Of Louis
lana shall be so amended as 10 read MS
follows:
Article 11G They shall have criminal
Jurisdiction rs committing magistrates,
and shall have power to bail or discharge
in eases not capital or necessarily punish
able at hard labor They shall receive
no fees in criminal matters including
peace bond cases, but in lieu thereof such
salary rs may be fixed annually by the
Police Jury to be paid by the parish.
Gee. I. BE it further resolved, etc,
That Article one hundred aad twenty
seven of the Constitution Of the State of