Special courts of appeals, to consist of not less than three nor more than five judges, may be formed of the judges of the supreme court of appeals, and of the circuit courts, or any of them, 'to try any cases remaining on the dockets of the present court of appeals when the judges thereof cease to hold their officeit ; or to try any cases which may be on the dockets of the supreme court of appeals established by this constitution, in re spect to which a majority of the judges of said court may be so situated as to make it improper for them to sit on the hearing thereof.
When a judgment or decree is reversed or af firmed by the supreme court of appeals, the rea sons therefor must be stated in writing, and pre served with the record of the case.
10. A Circuit Com t is to be held at least twice a year in every county and corporation thereof wherein a circuit court is now or may hereafter be esta blished, by a judge elected for the circuit hy the voters thereof for the term of eight years, unless sooner removed, etc. He must have like qualifica tions as to age and residence as the judges of sections. But the judges in the same district may be required or authorized to hold the courts of their respective circuits alternately, and a judge of one circuit to hold a court in any other circuit.
A District Court must be held at least once a year in every district, by the judges of the circuits constituting the section and the judges of the supreme court of appeals for the section of which the district forms a part, any three of whom may hold a court; but no judge shall sit or decide upon any appeal taken from his own decision. Tho judge of the supreme court of appeals of one sec tion may sit in the district courts of another sec tion, when required or authorized by law to do so.
This court does not have original jurisdiction except in cases of habeas corpus, mandamus, and prohibition.
Judges arc commissioned by the governor, receive fixed and adequate salaries, which are not to be diminished during their continuance in office. The salary of a judge of the supreme court of appeals is not to be less than three thousand dollars, and that of a judge of a circuit court not less than two thousand dollars per annum, except that of a judge of the fifth circuit, which is not to be less than fifteen hundred dollars per annum ; and each receives a reasonable allowance for necessary travel. No
judge during his term of service can hold any other office, appointment, or public trust; and the acceptance thereof vacates his judicial office; nor is he during such term, or within one year there after, eligible to any political office. No election of judge can be held within thirty daye of the time of holding any election of electors of president and vice-president of the United States, of mem bers of congress or of the general assembly.
11. Judgee may be removed from office by a concurrent vote of both houses of the general as sembly; but a majority of all the members elected to each house must concur in such vote; and the cause of removal must be entered on the jour nal of each house. The judge against whom the general assembly may he about to proceed receives notice thereof, accompanied by a copy of the causes alleged for his removal, at least twenty days before the day on which either house of the general as sembly acts thereupon.
An _Attorney-General is elected by the voters of the commonwealth for the term of fear years, at every election of a governor. He is commissioned by the governor, performs such duties and receives such compensation as the law prescribes, and is removable in the manner prescribed for the removal of judges.
Writs run in the name of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and are attested by the clerks of the several courts. Indictments conclude against the peace and dignity of the commonwealth.
A county court is to be held monthly in each county of the commonwealth, hy not less than three nor more than five juetioes, except when the law requires the presence of a greater number. Ea.ch county is laid off into districts, as nearly equal as may be in territory and population. In each district there are elected, by the voters thereof, four justices of the peace, who are to be com missioned by the governor, reside in their respect ive districts, and hold their office for the term of four years. The justices so elected choose one of their OWD body to be the presiding justice of the county court, and whose duty it is to attend each term of said court. The other justices are cla.ssi fied by law for the performance of their duties in court.
The justices receive for their services in court a per diem compensation, ascertained by law and paid out of the county treasury, a,nd do not re ceive any lee or emolument for other judicial ser vices.