Page:Notes on the State of Virginia (1853).djvu/157

Rh appear before their court, to answer it on indictment or information. If it amount to felony, he is committed to jail, a court of these justices is called; if they on examination think him guilty, they send him to the jail of the General Court, before which court he is to be tried first by a grand jury of 24, of whom 13 must concur in opinion; if they find him guilty, he is then tried by a jury of 12 men of the county where the offence was committed, and by their verdict, which must be unanimous, he is acquitted or condemned without appeal. If the criminal be a slave, the trial by the County Court is final. In every case however, except that of high treason, there resides in the Governor a power of pardon. In high treason, the pardon can only flow from the General Assembly. In civil matters these justices have jurisdiction in all cases of whatever value, not appertaining to the department of the admiralty. This jurisdiction is two fold. If the matter in dispute be of less value than 4 dollars, a single member may try it at any time and place within his county, and may award execution on the goods of the party cast. If it be of that or greater value, it is determinable before the County Court, which consists of four at the least of those justices, and assembles at the court house of the county on a certain day in every month. From their determination, if the matter be of the value of ten pounds sterling, or concern the title or bounds of lands, an appeal lies to one of the Superior Courts.

There are three Superior Courts, to wit, the High Court of Chancery, the General Court, and Court of Admiralty. The first and second of these receive appeals from the County Courts, and also have original jurisdiction where the subject of controversy is of the value of ten pounds sterling, or where it concerns the title or bounds of land. The jurisdiction of the admiralty is original altogether. The High Court of Chancery is composed of three judges, the General Court of five, and the Court of Admiralty of three. The two first hold their sessions at Richmond at stated times, the Chancery twice in the year, and the General Court twice for business, civil