Page:The Federal and state constitutions v2.djvu/551

1188 The State shall be divided by the first general assembly under this constitution into three common-pleas districts of compact territory, bounded by county lines, and as nearly equal in population as practicable; and a judge for each district shall be chosen by the electors thereof, and their term of office shall be for three years.

The courts of common pleas shall consist of one judge each, who shall reside within the district for which he is chosen during his continuance in office.

The jurisdiction of the court of common pleas, and of the judges thereof, shall be fixed by law.

A competent number of justices of the peace shall be elected by the electors in each township of the several counties. The term of office shall be three years, and their powers and duties shall be fixed by law.

All judges, other than those provided for in the constitution, shall be elected by the electors of the judicial district for which they may be created, but not for a longer term of office than three years.

The judges of the supreme court shall, immediately after the first election under this constitution, be classified by lot, so that one shall hold for the term of one year, one for the term of two years, and one for the term of three years, and at all subsequent elections the term of each of said judges shall be for three years.

In case the office of any judge shall become vacant before the expiration of the term for which he was elected, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the governor until a successor shall be elected and qualified; and such successor shall be elected for the residue of the unexpired term at the first annual election that occurs more than thirty days after such vacancy shall have happened.

The judges of the supreme court and of the courts of common pleas shall, at stated times, receive such compensation as may be provided by law, which shall not be increased or diminished during their term of office, but they shall receive no fees or perquisites, nor hold any other office of profit and trust under the State, other than a judicial office.

The general assembly may increase or diminish the number of the judges of the supreme court, the number of the districts of the courts of common pleas, the number of judges in any district, or establish other courts whenever two-thirds of the members elected to each house shall concur therein, but no such change, addition, or diminution shall vacate the office of any judge.

There shall be elected in each county, by the electors thereof, one clerk of the court of common pleas, who shall hold his office for the term of three years, and until his successor shall be elected and qualified.

The general assembly shall provide, by law, for the speedy publication of the decisions of the supreme court made under this constitution.

The supreme court shall, upon the decision of every case, give an opinion, in writing, of each question arising in the record in such case, and the decision of the court thereon.

There shall be elected by the voters of the State a clerk and a reporter for the supreme court, who shall hold their offices for three years, and whose duties shall be prescribed by law.