The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-21

Va CuO uiotG0E INV OlTeu DeIOrc
the appeal can be taken to that court and
providing an auxiliary court .of appeals
To accomplish these reforms he would
abolish county courts and have the judi
ciary system consist.of a supreme court
of appeals, corporation courts, district
courts and magistrates, whose jurisdic-
tor, except so far as it may be conferred
by the constitution, shall be regulated by
the general assembly.
The supreme court of appeals is to con-
sist of five judges, any three of whom may
hold court, and it shall have appellate
jurisdiction only, except in cases of habeas
corpus. mandamus and prohibitions; the
amount involved or nature of the contro
versy required to give jurisdiction to said
court to be regulated by the general as
cial court of appeals to consist of not less
than three nor more than five judges,
which may be formed of the judges of the
supreme court of appeals and of the
district courts, tc try any cases on the
docket of said court in respect to which
majority of the judges thereof may he so
situate as to make it improper for them
to sit..on the hearing of the same; and also
to try any case ON the said docket which
cannot be disposed of within twelve
months after the same shall have been
placed on the docket.
The judges of the supreme court of APP
peals are to be..chosen by joint vote of. the
two houses Of general assembly for
twelve years, except that of the Judges
fist elected one should be tor four years,
one for.six years, one for eight years and
one for ten years.
In regard to the district courts, terr,
of one of these courts shall labe he'd at
least once in two months in each county
and in each city containing more than
five thousand and ssnot--more than fifteen
thousand inhabitants in the State, which
shall be divided into twnety. five judicial
districts, each with not. less than fifty
thousand nor more than seventy. Thousand
Inhabitants within it's bounds. The Judge
of each of these districts is TO be elected
by the joint vote of the general assem-
bly, for the term of eight years.. except
that,of the judges first elected, one fourth
for two years, one.fourth for four years
and one fourth for six years, and each
Judge to reside in his district during his
continuance in office.
The corporation Judges are to be elected
by the general assembly, one for all the
cities containing over fifteen Thousand
inhabitants, two for cities containing over
5O, 900 inhabitants and three for cities
having over 100000 inhabitants This,
according to Mr. Parker's, plan would
give one judge to Roanoke, Norfolk
Lynchburg and Petersburg and two to
Richmond.
The magistrates are to be elected by the
qualified voters each magisterial district
in each county and each ward of each
city in the State, ..and they are to hold
office for four years with jurisdiction fixed
by the general assembly; provided, how
ever, that they are not to Try cases of fell
ony, and provided also that appeals shall
be allowed from their decision in crimi-
nal cases and in civil cases, where the
thing in controversy is realty or specific
personally Of the value OF more than
twenty dollars and in other cases where
the amount involved is more than fifty
dollars.
An innovation in Mr.. Parker's plan is
the establishment of the Office of recor-
der, who is to ne elected by the qualified
voters in each county and in each town
of more than five thousand inhabitants
and who is to hold the Office for six years
He shall record all conveyances, wills,
contracts or other writings, admit wills
to probate, appoint guardians, curatots
and committees, approve all fiduciary ac.
counts submitted to him by the clerk to
the district court for recordation, and
make all orders concerning mills, road
ways, ferries and landings, and perform
such other dutiesas he may be required
by law. Magistrates and recorders are
to he compensated by fee alone, which ara
to be fixed by law.
There is to be one commonwealth at
torney for every judicial district.
The district courts shall have original
jurisdiction in matters in which the SUI
preme court of appeals has original juris-
'io ton and exclusive original jurisdiction
of all other matters except those in which
magistrates and recorders have exclusive
original jurisdiction, and shall have ap.
pellate jurisdiction in all matters in which
an appear is allowed from magistrate or
Il recorder. An appeal shall be nj
lowed from the decisions of said court to