The Judicial Power.
S. The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and three associate justices, elected by the two houses of the assembly in grand committee. They are to hold effice until their places are declared vaunt hy a resolution passed by a majority of both houses at the annual .session for electing officers, unless removed by impeachment. In ease of va cancy hy death, resignation, removal from the state or from office, refusal or inability to serve, of any judge of the supreme court, the office may he filled by the grand cotnmittee, until the oext an nual election; a.ud the judge then elected holds his office as before provided. In Case of impeachment or temporary absence or inability, the governor may appoint a person to discharge the duties of the office during the vacancy caused thereby.
This court has original jurisdiction of all civil actions, as well between the state and its citizens as between citizens where the damages laid exceed one hundred doll'ars; and of all criminal proceed ings, concurrently with the court of common pleas; and exclusive jurisdiction over crimes for which the punishment is imprisonment for life; has a general superintendence of all courts of inferior, jurisdictibu; has exclusive authority to issue writs of error, certiorari, mandamus, prohibition, quo war ratito, tO entertain informations in the oature of quo warranto ; has exclusive cognizance of all pe titions for divorce, separate maintenance, alimony, eustody of Children, and all petitions for relief of inaolvents; and exclusive jurisdiction in equity. It is also the supreme court of probate. Two ses sions are held annually in each oeunty in the state. 9. The Court of COMMOn Pleas is held by some cue of the justices of the supreme court, desig nated for that purpose by the justices of that court. This court has original jurisdiction of 811 civil actions which involve title to real estate or where real estate is attached, if the amount exceed fifty dollars, except in case of certain writs. It has
jurisdiction, concurrently with the supreme court. of all crimes,--but if the prisoner be arraigned for crime punishable by imprisonment for life, the case must he certified to the Supreme court; wind also of actions to recover possession of lands from tenants at will, sufferance. and the like. It has APPellate jurisdiotion in civil and criminal cases from justices of the peace nnd the magistrates' courts. Two sessions of this court are held annually in each oounty. Special terms of this court are also held, for which no jury is to be summoned unless re quired by notice from one of the parties to the suit. It han concurrent jurisdiction with the supreme court.
Jueticee of the Peace are elected for one year by the several towns, and also by the general assembly in their discretion as to the number in each town. They have original and exclusive jurisdiction of all civil actions for less than fifty dollars, except where the title to land is involved.
A Court,o/ Magietratee exists in the larger cities, composed of one or more juatiees, which has exclu sive jurisdiction, within specified limita, over all cases where jurisdiction is given to justices of tho peace, civil and criminal. The justices of this court are elected by the general assembly in convention among the justices of the district.
Courte of Pfobate are held by the town councils of the various towns, except in Providence, where the municipal court acts as a probate court. This court has jurisdiction of the settlement of estates of deceased persons, aupervision of guardians, probate of wills, and other similar matters, with a right of appeal to the supreme court.