Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-03-04
SIXTH JUDI
CIAL DISTRICT
Text Of the Bill Passed by the
House Providing For Another
Associate Justice.
STRONG ARGUMENTS
Are Put Forth by the Committee on
Judiciary for Its Passage -.0ther
Washington Matters.

The following is the text of the bill
to create Sixth Judicial District of
New Mexico, as passed by the House
of Representatives at Washington a
few days ago:
A bill TO provide for an additional
associate Justice of the Supreme Court
OF the Territory of New Mexico:
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the Uni
ted States of America in Congress as
semhled, That hereafter the Supreme
Court Of the Territory of New Mexico
shall consist OF chief justice and five
associate justices. any four of whom
shall constitute a quorum: Provided,
That the Judge who presided at the
trial Of cause in the court below
shall not sit at the hearing of the
same case on appeal or writ of error in
the Supreme Court of the Territory
Section q That it shall be the duty
of the President to appoint one addi.
tional associate justice of said Su-
preme Court in manner now provided
by law, who shall hold his Office for
the term of four years and until his
successor is appointed and qualified.
Section 8. That the said Territory
shall be divided into six judicial dis
tricts, and district court shall be held
in each district by one of the justices
of the Supreme Court at such time
and place as is or may be prescribed
by law. Each judge, after assignment,
shall reside in the district to which
he is assigned.
Section 4. That the present chief
Justice and his associates are hereby
vested with power and authority, and
they are hereby directed, to divide
said territory into six judicial districts,
and make such assignments OF the
judges provided for in the first section
of this act as shall, in their judgment,
be meet and proper.
Section s. That the said district
court shall have Jurisdiction, and the
same Is hereby vested, to hear, try,
and determine all matters and causes
that the courts of the other districts
of the Territory now possess; and for
such purposes two terms of said court
shall be held annually at such places
within said district as may be desig-
mated by the chief justice and his as
sociates, or majority of them; and
grand and petit jurors shall be sum-
moned therein in the manner now re-
quired by law.
oil Offn m If,
ted before the passage of this act
shall be prosecuted, tried, and deter
mined In the same manner and with
the same effect Except as to the num-
Der of judges) as if this act had not
passed.
The report of the House committee
on Judiciary, sums up the necessity
for the measure as follows:
The committee on the judiciary, to
whom was referred the bill (H. Il.
1859 to provide for an additional as
sociate Justice of the Supreme Court
of the Territory of New Mexico, beg
leave to report that they have had the
same under consideration, that it was
referred to a subcommittee, who re-
norted unanimously in favor OF the
passage Of the same to the Whoie
committee, and the whole committee
now respectfully reports to the House:
That they have examined into the
question of the necessity for an addi-
tionaI associate justice of the Supreme
Court, and in the examination had pe-
fore them, not only many cltizens .!
said Territory who were well posteu
upon conditions therein. but the dele
gate in Congress as well; and also naa
before them maps showing the size
and boundaries of the now exlstlns
Fifth Judicial District of said Territory
and also had letters from the cover
NOR and many other prominent citizens
of the Territory, as well as of the judi
ciary thereof, all favoring and advocat-
ing the passage of the bill in question.
Il appears that the Territory Is now
divided into five districts, the section
of country intended to be benefited by
tbis hill comprising the central portion
Of the Territory clear across from All
roma tn Texas. The committee exam
ined in great detail the jury lists and
reports Of the United States marshal
for said Territory and the dockets o1
the several district courts, as also the
Governors report which furnishing, .
complete synopsis Of the judicial dis
tricts and the business done therein
in the whole Territory
The committee has ascertained thai
the central portion of the Territory
east of the Rio. Grande. consisting q
many counties, is enduring practica
denial of justice, and such condition
has existed for several years last past
owing to the fact that the five judges
who now hold courts in the districts
Of the TERRITORY are SO busy in the sev
eral other districts that it Is utterl.
impossible Tor them to give proper at
tent,oA TX I'M central and eastern por