Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-08
oun COUNTY counr SYSTEM.

OUR COUNTY COtNT u So
We take the following from the edito-
rial columns OF the Lynchburg Advance
1.-THE Dispatch quotes "a distinguished
LAWYER as saying recently that VIZ
einla would better abolish her county
court system and increase the number
of circuit judges. and give the circuit
courts most OF the Jurisdiction that
county courts now have
..Trom the suggestion of increasing
tho number Of circuit Judges we must
emphatically dissent. The judges OF our
Virginia Court OF Appeals are very Sc
yerely worked, and, as a rule. the Judges
of our city courts are kept quite busy
But the circuit judges Il this State, as
Is we'll understood, have not. As RUE
enough TO occupy onc-thlrd OF their time.
In those counties OF the State where
LITIGATION ia heaviest. the circuit courts
do not now hold their terms Tor week,
whereas. formerly the term continued
for three, and even for four, Weehs.
And IN the counties where litigation is
light. the circuit courts often get through
all business and adjourn In one day
and vet we have In Virginia twice
nc many Judges as they have III the
state of North Carolina, n state "nere
there Is doubtless as much litigation rs
there is In Virginia.
1--WE are not prepared 10 advocate
the abolition of the county court SyS-
tenn of the State; but we nave not inc
least doubt that we might reduce the
number Of the circuit judges, ana re-
oulre the reduced number to discharse
the business OF the circuit courts anu
also most Of the BUSINESS now trans
acted by the county courts; lot TINS
does not. as a rule. occupy more man
two days in each month Oh the uiiiie
of the county judges.
at would be very good pau, We
,,ink ~ our virginia Bar Association
would act upon the suggestion gwen
Nv tho Atlanta Constitution to the Bar
Association Of Georgia. and at their
summer meeting discuss this important
matter of reducing the burdensome ex-
nense to the State Of the criminal courts,
and such other retrenchments as are
practicable in the administration or the
courts-clvil as well as criminal
As county judges are to be elected at
the next session Of tho Legislature, 1t
is well for this subject to be discussed
now. Thus those elected would take
office with the understanding that, In
the course Of a few years. a constitu-
tional amendment might be adopted af-
fecting their tenure.
The Dispatch. like the Advance, Is by
no means satisfied that a change In our
county court system ought to be made.
Nor ought any thoughtful man to make
ND his mind upon this important subject
until he has the facts and figures be-
fore him, showing how much may be
saved by the change. We very much
doubt if the present number Of circuit
Judges could do the work they now do,
and the judicial work that also per-
tains to the county judgeships. How
ever, we candidly admit that this Is a
subject upon which we are not yet in
formed. Facts and figures are needed
by us, as well as by the general public.
1t is largely a statistical question-a
question of finance indeed.
All of this information will be forth
coming when the subject is taken up
for serious consideration. But how is
it to come up? This does not seem to
be well settled. County meetings have
hitherto ignored the matter Of constitu-
tional amendments Why, we do not
know-unless, indeed there are some
who think the question of convention
or no convention ought to be submitted
to the voters again. But it may be sub
mitted again and again. and it will never
be adopted unless it is made a Demo-
cratic party measure.
As we have said before, the matter
of constitutional amendments will be
heard Of frequently in the course OF
the next few years. And it would seem
to be wise policy TO elect legislators who
will agree to give them prompt early,
and earnest consideration, to the end
that thu changes the people wish
may be made, and that faith may be
kept by those who advised the people
to vote down the convention proposition
because the Legislature could and woula
do the work.