The annual salary of the recorder of London is 3000/. Besides this, he has fees on all cases and briefs which come to him from the cor poration, and he is also allowed to continue his private practice.
The recorder is elected by the court of aldermen, most commonly at a special court held for the purpose. Any alderman may put any freeman of the city in nomination as a candidate for the office, but an actual contest seldom takes place. The recorder elect is admitted and sworn in befOre the court of aldermen. The appointment is during good behaviour, that is, in contemplation of law, for life. The re corder has always been a serjeant-at-law or a barrister. The office has been held by men of considerable eminence : of eleven persons who filled the situation during the last century, one became lord chancellor ; another, master of the rolls ; another, chief justice of the Common Pleas ; and two, barons of the Exchequer.
By an order made by the court of aldermen in the reign of Philip and Mary, the recorder, common-Berjeant, and judge of the sheriff's court, were directed to be chosen " from old and learned officers of the city or out of the number of the six learned counsellors," that number comprehending, in addition to the ordinary city counsel, the attorney and solicitor-general, who were always retained for the city. Four persona by whom the recorderahip of London has been held during the present century, have previously filled the office of common. serjeant. [Seeseaser.] But no similar instance occurred during the 18th century.
The recorder of London deriving hie authority from charters, and not being appointed by commission (except temporarily as included with other judger; in the commission of oyer and terminer, &c., at the
Old Bailey), he is not, like the judges of the superior courts. liable to dismissal by the crown upon an address by both Houses of Parliament. But all recorders may be removed for incapacity or misconduct by a proceeding at common law.
Deputy recorders have, in some instances, been appointed by the court of aldermen on the nomination of the recorder. (` Report on Municipal Corporations.') 11. In cities and boroughs within the Municipal Corporations Act, the recorder (who must be a barrister of not leas than five years' stand ing) is a judicial officer appointed wider the sign manual by the crown during good behaviour, having criminal and civil jurisdiction within the city or borough, with precedence next to the mayor. He holds once in every quarter of a year, or at such other and more frequent times as ho shall in his discretion think fit, or as the crown shall think fit to direct, a court of quarter-session of the peace, at which he site as the sole judge, such court being a court of record, and having cogni sauce of all crimes, offences, and matters whatever cognisable by any court of quarter-session of the peace for counties in England. No recorder has power to make or levy any rate In the nature of a county rate, or to grant licence to keep an alehouse or victualling-house, to sell exciseable liquors, or to exercise any of the powers by that act specially vested in the town council.
The civil jurisdiction of the recorders of boroughs is exercised in the borough court, according to the charters or acts of parliament, if any, which regulate them. lie may, however, delegate this duty to a judge of the court: