Page:The Federal and state constitutions v5.djvu/286

2812 The general assembly shall provide for the establishment of special courts, for the trial of misdemeanors, in cities and towns, where the same may be necessary.

The clerk of the supreme court shall be appointed by the court, and shall hold his office for eight years.

A clerk of the superior court for each county shall be elected by the qualified voters thereof, at the time and in the manner prescribed by law for the election of members of the general assembly.

Clerks of the superior courts shall hold their offices for four years.

The general assembly shall prescribe and regulate the fees, salaries, and emoluments of all officers provided for in this article; but the salaries of the judges shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.

The laws of North Carolina, not repugnant to this constitution or to the Constitution and laws of the United States, shall be in force until lawfully altered.

Actions at law, and suits in equity, pending when this constitution shall go into effect, shall be transferred to the courts having jurisdiction thereof, without prejudice by reason of the change, and all such actions and suits, commenced before, and pending at, the adoption by the general assembly of the rules of practice and procedure herein provided for, shall be heard and determined according to the practice now in use, unless otherwise provided for by said rules.

The justices of the supreme court shall be elected by the qualified voters of the State, as is provided for the election of members of the general assembly. They shall hold their offices for eight years. The judges of the superior courts shall be elected in like manner, and shall hold their offices for eight years; but the judges of the superior courts elected at the first election under this constitution shall, after their election, under the superintendence of the justices of the supreme court, be divided by lot into two equal classes, one of which shall hold office for four years, the other for eight years.

The general assembly may provide by law that the judges of the superior courts, instead of being elected by the voters of the whole State, as is herein provided for, shall be elected by the voters of their respective districts.

The superior courts shall be, at all times, open for the transaction of all business within their jurisdiction, except the trial of issues of fact requiring a jury.

A solicitor shall be elected for each judicial district by the qualified voters thereof, as is prescribed for members of the general assembly, who shall hold office for the term of four years, and prosecute on behalf of the State, in all criminal actions in the superior courts, and advise the officers of justice in his district.

In each county a sheriff and coroner shall be elected by the qualified voters thereof, as is prescribed for members of the general assembly, and shall hold their offices for two years. In each township there shall be a constable, elected in like manner by the voters thereof, who shall hold his office for two years. When there is no coroner in the county, the clerk of the superior court for the county may appoint one for special cases. In case of a vacancy existing for