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directed, of the said districts respectively, shall forthwith draw from the said jury lists, jurors to serve on the several juries at the said courts respectively, in like manner as jurors are now drawn to serve in the superior courts of law in this state; and the sheriffs of the said districts respectively, shall summon the jurors so drawn as aforesaid, to appear and serve at the said courts respectively.

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And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That at the first holding of each of the said New jury several district courts, established by this act, and lists to be once at least in every three years thereafter, it shall every 3 and may be lawful for one or more of the associate years. judges of this state, and they are hereby directed and required to cause new jury lists to be made up from the tax returns of such districts, for the preceding year, which tax returns the sheriff of each district shall procure from the tax collector thereof, who is hereby required, without delay, to deliver the same to such sheriff; and the judge or judges, attending at such court, shall cause therefrom to be transcribed the names of such persons, who are entitled by the constitution of this state, to vote for members of the state legislature, and shall have been liable to pay, the preceding year, a tax of three dollars, and upwards, for the support of this government, and shall carefully select therefrom the names of those persons best qualified to serve as grand jurors, and shall put their names, in the manner prescribed by law, in the division of the jury box numbered one; and also the names of such persons, who are entitled as aforesaid, to vote for members of the state legislature, and shall have been liable to pay, the preceding year, a tax of one dollar and upwards for the support of this government, and shall carefully select therefrom the names of those persons best qualified to serve as petit jurors and common pleas jurors; and shall put their names in the manner prescribed by law, into the division of the jury box, numbered three:

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ries to be drawn.

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dance.

Provided the number of the grand jurors do not exceed one half of the petit jurors, selected as aforesaid.

And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That one or more of the associate judges aioresaid, at every time of holding of each of the said several district courts, established by this act, shall cause to be drawn out of the division of the jury box of such courts, numbered one, the names of twentyfour persons to serve as grand jurors; and cut of the division of the said jury box, numbered three, the names of forty-eight persons to serve as petit jurors, and common pleas jurors, at the next succeeding court for such district; and the said grand and petit jurors shall be summoned and empannelled, in like manner as grand, petit and common pleas juror now are.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforePenalty on said, That any juryman, who shall be legally sumjurors for moned to appear and serve at any of the said courts established by this act, and shall neglect or refuse so to do, shall, ifa grand juror, forfeit and pay the sum of thirty dollars, and five per cent. upon the amount of his general state taxes for the year preceding; and if a petit or common pleas juror, the sum of twenty dollars, and five per cent. upon the amount of his general state taxes for the year preceding, unless such person shall shew a good and sufficient cause of excuse, upon oath, to the satisfaction of any of the said judges, at the next sitting, after the sitting of the court to which such person shall have been summoned to serve as aforesaid, to be recovered and applied in the same way and manner that fines for non-attendance of jurors have been heretofore recovered and applied.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforeJurisdicti- said, That from and after the first day of January, on of coun- in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundeclared. dred, the several county courts shall cease to have

ty courts

jurisdiction, original or appellate, of any causes,

civil or criminal, except as hereinafter declared; but shall continue to be held and sit for the dispatch of all such other matters as are now within their jurisdiction, four times in each year, at the times and places now appointed by law for holding the said county courts respectively, and shall keep, as heretofore, a record of all mesne conveyances of lands within their respective counties; and that all suits and indictments which shall or may be depending in the said county courts, on the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred, shall be transferred to the district courts of common pleas and sessions hereby established for each of the said counties respectively; which said courts of common pleas and sessions, are hereby authorized and required, to proceed in all such suits and indictments, to judgment, sentence and execution, in the same manner as in suits and indictments, commenced in any of the said last mentioned courts, under and by virtue of this act.

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And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the first day of January, Former in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- courts of dred, the several courts of general sessions of the common peace, oyer and terminer, assize and general gaol sessions delivery, and of common pleas, now established abolished, and held in this state, shall be, and the same are ness transhereby for ever abolished; and that all suits, ap- ferred. peals and indictments, then depending in any of the said courts, (except the court of Charleston district, in which the business already commenced, shall be continued in the district of Charleston, established by this act,) shall be transferred in manner following, that is to say: when any ditrict shall contain two or more of the districts established by this act,, the suits, appeals and indictments, depending in the respective superior courts of law of such district, shall be transferred to that new district established by this act, within such district, wherein the defendant or appellee resides;

and where there are two or more defendants or ap pellees, residing in different new districts, within the limits of such district, then to such one of the said new districts as the plaintiff or appellor shall direct; and where none of the defendants or appellees reside within such district, then to such of the new districts therein, as the plaintiff or appellant shall direct; and all indictments to the new district where the offence was committed. And all the said suits and indictments shall be continued, proceeded on and determined in the respective courts to which they shall be transferred as aforesaid; and all records of the said superior courts hereby abolished, shall be transferred to the nearest district established by this act, there to be kept

and continued.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforeClerks of said, That the several clerks of the courts required the courts, by this act, shall be recommended by the judges appointed. of the county courts, resident in such districts

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where county courts are established, to his excellency the governor, who shall appoint and commission the persons so recommended; and that the several clerks of the courts required by this act, where no county courts have been heretofore held, shall be recommended by a majority of the justices of the peace in such districts, to his excellency the governor, who shall commission and appoint the clerks so recommended; and a sheriff'shall be appointed for each of the said districts, who shall be elected by a joint ballot of both branches of the legislature, and commissioned by the governor or commander in chief for the time being, according to the constitution of this state; which sheriffs and clerks shall perform, respectively, in the districts and courts whereof they shall be appointed or chosen, all the duties, and shall receive therefor the same fees and emoluments, and shall be subject to the same rules, regulations and restrictions now established by law for and concerning the clerks

and sheriffs of the several circuit and district courts in this state.

And whereas, it is in the contemplation of the legislature of this state, to establish an uniform system of judicature throughout this state, and that the laws should be administered by one and the same judges throughout the state:

abolished.

Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the first day of January, Court of one thousand eight hundred, the sixth and seventh wardens clauses of an act, entitled, "An act to explain and amend an act, entitled, An act to incorporate Charleston, and to enlarge the powers of the city council,' passed the twenty-sixth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four," be, and the same is hereby repealed.

ced.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the commencement of Attornies the operation of this act, the attornies fees in the fees redu respective courts, shall not exceed the present fees had by law, upon the proceedings by petition and summons, in the in the present circuit courts, in all cases whatsoever, wherein the county courts have hitherto had exclusive jurisdiction, and in other cases the usual fees allowed by law.

to the pre

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That two judges, in addition to those alrea- Two juddy on the bench, shall be elected for the courts of ges added sessions and common pleas throughout this state, sent numwho shall be commissioned in the same manner, ber. shall perform the same services, and be entitled to the same salary, with the present judges of the courts of sessions and common pleas.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That an act of the general assembly of this Repealing state, entitled, "An act for establishing the salary clause, as for the governor of this state, and the salaries of chief to judges other public officers, and for other purposes therein justice. mentioned," be, and the same is hereby repealed, so far as relates to the judges of the courts of ses

and

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