Year: 1867

| An Act to reorganize the Courts in the District


of Columbia, and for other Purposes.
| Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives of the United States of America in


Congress assembled, That there shall be establish
ed in the District OF Columbia court to be called
the supreme court of the District of Columbia,
which shall have general jurisdiction in law and
equity 1t shall consist of four justices, one of


whom ahall be denominated chief Justice
These justices shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent, by and with the consent Of the Senate and
! shall hold their offices during good behavior
Each justice, before he enters upon the duties of


his Office, shall take the oath prescribed to be
taken by judges OF the courts of the United States
Any three of said justices may hold general
term, and any one of them may hold special
term, or circuit court, as hereinafter provided
special term may be held at the same time with
a circuit court and by the same Justice.


Sec. 2. And be it -urther enacted, That the said
court shall have power to appoint clerk, who
in the manner prescribed by law for clerks of dis
trict courts of the United States.


See. 3. And be it further enacted, That the su
preme court organized by this act shall possess
the same powers and exerLise the same jursdic-
ton as is now possessed and exercised by the cir
cult court of the District of Columbia, and the
justices of the court to be organized shall
severally possess the powers and exercise the
jurisdiction now possessed and exercised by the
Judges of said circuit court. Any one of said
justices may hold district court of the United
States for the District of Columbia, in the same
manner and with the same powers and jursdic-
tion possessed and exercised by other district
courts of the United States. Any one of said
justices may hold criminal court for the trial of
all crimes and offences arising within said district
which court shall possess the same powers and
exercise the Same Jurisdiction now possessed and
exercised by the criminal court of the District OF
Columbia.


Sec 4. And be it further enacted, That general
terms of the said supreme court shall be held at
the same times at which terms of the circuit
court of the Dstict of Columbia are now re-
quired to be held, and at the same place District
courts and criminal courts shall also be held by
one of said Justices at the several times when such
courts now required by law to be held and at
the same place.


Sec 5. And be it further enacted That special
terms of said supreme court shall be held by one
of said justices, at such time or times as the said
merated motions in all suits and proceedings at
law and in equity shall first be heard and deter
mined at such special terms. Suits in equity, not
triable by jury, shall also he heard and determined
at such special terms But the justice holding
such special term may, in his discretion, order
any such motion or suit to be heard in the first
instance, at general term. Any party aggrieved
by any order, Judgment or decree, made or pro-
nounced at any such special term, may, if the
involve the merits of the action proceeding,
appeal therefrom to the general term of said su-
term shall review such order, Judgment, or de-
cree and affirm, reverse, or modify the same, as
shall be just. - b.


Sec 6. And be it further enacted That the said
court in general term, shall adopt such rules as
it may think proper to regulate the time and
manner OF making appeals from the special term
to the general term, and may prescribe the terms
and conditions upon which such appeals may be
made. Such court may also establish such other