Page:Constitution of the state of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations - 1824.djvu/12

 ed in one Supreme Judicial Court, a Circuit Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace, and in such other Courts, inferior to the Supreme Judicial Court, as the Legislature may, from time to time, ordain and establish: and the jurisdiction of the Supreme Judicial Court and all other Courts, may, from time to time, be regulated by the Legislature.

2. There shall be annually appointed, in each town, a sufficient number of Justices of the Peace, with such jurisdiction as the legislature may prescribe.

3. The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court and Circuit Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace shall be appointed in the manner provided by this Constitution. They shall be removable from office, by impeachment, or on the joint resolution of both branches of the Legislature, two thirds of the number elected of each branch concurring therein. But no person, who was a member of the Legislature at the time of such removal, shall be appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned thereby: and in all cases of removal by joint resolution of both branches of the Legislature, the causes of removal, and the ayes and nays thereon, shall be stated, and entered upon the journal of each House.

4. The Supreme Judicial Court shall consist of one Chief Justice and two Associate Justices, a majority of whom shall form a quorum. The Chief Justice shall be appointed for the term of six years; the second Justice, for the terra of four years; and the third Justice, for the term of two years; but all subsequent appointments, at the end of either of these terms, shall be for the term of six years. The Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court shall receive a compensation which shall not be diminished during their term of office.

5. The Circuit Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace shall consist of five Justices, one Justice to be taken from each county: and the jurisdiction of said Court shall extend to every county in this State; and the terms of said Court shall be holden in each county, as shall be prescribed by law. The Justices of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace shall be appointed for the term of one year.