USA > Michigan > Michigan legislative manual and official directory for the years 1899-1900 > Part 23
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( h) Resigned Feb. 10, 1879-appointed Minister to Peru; died Sept. 8, 1890.
( i ) To fill the unexpired term of Isaac P. Christiancy, resigned; died Nov. 1, 1879.
(j ) Appointed Nov. 17, 1879, vice Zachariah Chandler, deceased. Fernando C. Beaman, who was first appointed, having declined. Mr. Baldwin was elected by the legislature, Jan. 19, 1881, for term closing March 4, 1881. ( k ) Died April 30, 1894.
( ( ) Appointed by the governor May 5, 1894, vice Francis B. Stockbridge, deceased, until the election of a successor by the legislature in January, 1895. (m) Elected to succeed John Patton, Jr., for the unexpired term of Francis B. Stockbridge.
( n) Elected in 1847 to fill vacancy of Edward Bradley, deceased, who never qualified.
34.
Dewitt C. Leach
1857-58
Charles E. Stuart (n) 1847-48
33.
28.
Term of
Cong.
32.
service.
UNITED STATES OFFICIALS FROM MICHIGAN.
199
REPRESENTATIVES .- Continued.
Term of
Cong. service.
Cong. service.
Nathan B. Bradley 18.5-76
Omar D. Conger .. .1875-76
George H. Durand 1875-76
Jay A. Hubbell. 1875-76
44. r Allen Potter. 1875-76
Henry Waldron 1875-76
George Willard. 1875-76 Alpheus S. Williams 1875-76
William B. Williams 1875-76
1
Augustus C. Baldwin . 1863-64
Omar D. Conger. 1877-78
Charles C. Ellsworth .. 1877-78
Jay A. Hubbell .. 1877-78
Edwin W. Keightly
1877-78
Jonas H. McGowan.
1877-78
John W. Stone. 1877-78 Alpheus S. Williams (d) .. 1877-78
Edwin Willitts. 1877-78
:39.
Julius C. Burrows. 1879-80
Omar D. Conger. 1879-80 Roswell G. Horr. 1879-80
46. Jay A. Hubbell. 1879-80
Jonas H. McGowan .1879-80
-
John W. Stone. 1879-80
1
Edwin Willitts. 1879-80
Charles Upson.
1867-68
Henry W. Lord .. 1881-82
Edwin Willitts. 1881-82
47.
Oliver L. Spaulding
1881-82
Omar D. Conger (e) 1881-82
John T. Rich 1881-82
Roswell G. Horr. 1881-82
Jay A. Hubbell 1881-82
-
Austin Blair 1871-72
Omar D. Conger. 1871-72
Wilder D. Foster. 1871-72
-42.
William L. Stoughton 1871-72
Jabez G. Sutherland. 1871-72
Julius Houseman 1883-84
48.
Edwin B. Winans 1883-84
Nathan B. Bradley 1873-74
Julius C. Burrows. 1873-74
Omar D. Conger. 1873-74
43.
Moses W. Field
1873-74
Jay A. Hubbell. 1873-74
Henry Waldron 1873-74
George Willard. 1873-74
William B. Williams (c) ... 1873-74
Term of
George B. Cooper (a) 1859-60
William A. Howard (b) ... 1860-60
:36.
Francis W. Kellogg. 1859-60 Dewitt C. Leach. 1859-60
Henry Waldron
1859-60
Fernando C. Beaman 1861-62
Bradley F. Granger. 1861-62
37.
Francis W. Kellogg .. 1861-62 Rowland E. Trowbridge .. 1861-62
( Mark S. Brewer 1877-78
Fernando C. Beaman. 1863-64
38.
John F. Driggs 1863-64
Francis W. Kellogg. 1863-64 John W. Longyear 1863-64
( Charles Upson. 1863-64
Fernando C. Beaman. 1865-66
John F. Driggs 1865-66
Thomas W. Ferry. 1865-66
John W. Longyear. 1865-66 Rowland E. Trowbridge. . 1865-66
Charles Upson.
1865-66
Fernando C. Beaman 1867-68
Austin Blair 1867-68
John F. Driggs 1867-68
40.
Fernando C. Beaman. 1869-70
Austin Blair . 1869-70
Omar D. Conger. 1869-70
George W. Webber.
1881-82
.41.
Thomas W. Ferry.
1869-70
William L. Stoughton 1869-70
Randolph Strickland
1869-70
William C. Maybury 1883-84
Nathaniel B Eldridge 1883-84 Edward S. Lacey. 1883-84
George L. Yaple 1883-84
Henry Waldron
1871-72
Josiah W. Begole 1873-74
Ezra C. Carlton .. 1883-84
Roswell.G. Horr. 1883-84 Byron M. Cutcheon. 1883-84
Herschell H. Hatch. 1883-84
Edward Breitung. 1883-84
(a) Lost his seat in election contest with Howard. Gained his seat May 15, 1860.
Elected in 1873 to fill vacancy occasioned by the death of Wilder D. Foster.
(d) Deceased December, 1878. (e) Elected U. S. Senator by legislature of 1881, succeeded by John T. Rich.
45.
( Mark S. Brewer. 1879-80
John S. Newberry 1879-80
Thomas W. Ferry 1867-68 Rowland E. Trowbridge .. 1867-68
Edward S. Lacey .1881-82 Julius C. Burrows. 1881-82
200
UNITED STATES OFFICIALS FROM MICHIGAN.
REPRESENTATIVES .- Concluded.
Term of
Cong. service.
J. Logan Chipman ( d) 1893-94
Nathaniel B. Eldridge
1885-86
Levi T. Griffin (e)
1893-94
James O'Donnell. 1885-86
James S. Gorman. 1893-94
Julius C. Burrows 1885-86
Julius C. Burrows
1893-94
Charles C. Comstock. 1885-86
Henry F. Thomas. 1893-94
49. Edwin B. Winans. 1885-86
Ezra C. Carleton. 1885-86
Timothy E. Tarsney 1885-86
Byron M. Cutcheon. 1885-86
Spencer O. Fisher. 1885-86
Seth C. Moffatt. 1885-86
(J. Logan Chipman 1887-88
Edward P. Allen 1887-88
James O'Donnell. 1887-88
( John B. Corliss. 1895-96
George Spalding . 1895-96
Julius C. Burrows (f) 1895-96
Alfred Milnes (g) 1895-96.
Henry F. Thomas 1895-96
William Alden Smith 1895-96
54. David D. Aitkin. 1895-96
Horace G. Snover 1895-96
William S. Linton. 1895-96
Roswell P. Bishop 1895-96
Rousseau O. Crump. 1895-96
John Avery. 1895-96
Samuel M. Stephenson 1895-96
51.
Mark S. Brewer 1889-90
Albert May Todd. 1897-98.
Justin R. Whiting 1889-90
Edward LaRue Hamilton
1897-98
Aaron T. Bliss. . 1889-90
William Alden Smith .. 1897-98
Samuel W. Smith. 1897-98
55.
Horace G. Snover. 1897-98.
Ferdinand Brucker. 1897-98
Roswell P. Bishop 1897-98
Rousseau O. Crump 1897-98.
William S. Mesick. 1897-98
Carlos D. Shelden 1897-98
Julius C. Burrows 1891-92
Melbourne H. Ford (c) 1891-92
John B. Corliss 1899-1900
Charles E. Belknap.
Henry C. Smith 1899-1900
Byron G. Stout.
Washington Gardner. .. 1899-1900
1891-92 Justin R. Whiting. 1891-92
Edward L. Hamilton. 1899-1900 William Alden Smith ... 1899-1900
Samuel W. Smith. .. 1899-1900
56.
Edgar Weeks 1899-1900
Joseph W. Fordney. .1899-1900
Roswell P. Bishop. .1899-1900
Rousseau O. Crump 1899-1900
William S. Mesick .1899-1900
Carlos D. Shelden. .1899-1900
Deceased December 22, 1887.
8 Vice Seth C. Moffatt, deceased. Melbourne H. Ford died April 20, 1891. Charles E. Belknap elected November 3, 1891, to fill vacancy caused by death of Melbourne H. Ford. (d) Deceased Aug. 17, 1893. (e ) Levi T. Griffin elected November 7, 1893, to fill vacancy caused by death of J. Logan Chipman, August 17, 1893.
(f) Elected United States senator, January, 1895.
(g) Elected April 1, 1895, to fill vacancy caused by election of Julius C. Burrows to the United States senate.
50.
Justin R. Whiting 1887-88
Timothy E. Tarsney. 1887-88
Byron M. Cutcheon 1887-88
Spencer O. Fisher 1887-88
Seth C. Moffatt (a) .. 1887-87
(Henry W. Seymour (b) .. 1887-88
J. Logan Chipman. 1889-90
Edward P. Allen 1889-90
James O'Donnell. 1889-90
Julius C. Burrows 1889-90
(John B. Corliss .. 1897-98.
Charles E. Belknap. 1889-90
George Spalding 1897-98
Byron M. Cutcheon 1889-90
Frank W. Wheeler. 1889-90
Samuel M. Stephenson
1889-90
J. Logan Chipman. 1891-92
James S. Gorman 1891-92
James O'Donnell 1891-92
52.
Term of service.
Cong.
William C. Maybury 1885-86
George F. Richardson 1893-94
53. David D. Aitkin 1893-94 Justin R. Whiting. 1893-94
William S. Linton. 1893-94
John W. Moon 1893-94
Thomas A. E. Weadock .. 1893-94
John Avery. 1893-94
Samuel M. Stephenson 1893-94
Julius C. Burrows 1887-88
Melbourne H. Ford. 1887-88
Mark S. Brewer 1887-88
Samuel M. Stephenson .. 1891-92
.
1891-92
Henry M. Youmans 1891-92
Harrison H. Wheeler 1891-92
Thomas A. E. Weadock. 1891-92
INDUSTRIAL HOME FOR GIRLS, ADRIAN.
JUDICIAL SYSTEM OF MICHIGAN.
SUPREME COURT.
The territorial government of Michigan was established in 1805. The- supreme court of the territory consisted of a chief and two associate judges appointed by the president of the United States. The judge holding the commission of earliest date was made chief judge, and the- other judges took precedence according to the dates of their commis- sions. When, however, commissions bore the same date precedence was determined by the ages of the judges. Their term of office was. "during good behavior," and so they held until the year 1824, when the "second grade" of territorial government was established.
This court at first had original and exclusive jurisdiction in all cases. involving the title to land, criminal cases punishable capitally, and cases of divorce and alimony; afterwards, of all cases beyond the juris- diction of inferior courts, all cases wherein the United States was a party, and all actions of ejectment. During the existence of the dis -. trict courts, it had concurrent jurisdiction therewith in civil matters, when the demand exceeded $500; after that it was given original and exclusive jurisdiction of claims above $200. After the organization of county courts, it had original jurisdiction of ejectment and civil ac -- tions, when more than $1,000 was in controversy. It also determined all legal questions arising in circuit courts, on motion for new trial, in arrest of judgments or cases reserved, and it also issued writs of error to circuit and county courts.
The following judges were members of the supreme court of the- territory under the "first grade" of government:
Term began. Term expired.
1805-Augustus B. Woodward, C. J 1824.
1805-Frederick Bates, A. J. 1808. Resigned ..
1806-John Griffin, A. J. 1824.
1805-James Witherell, A. J. 1824.
Upon the establishment of the "second grade" of government in 1824, the term of office was limited to four years. From that time until the admission of Michigan to the union in 1837, the following judges were members of the supreme court:
Term began. Term expired.
1824-James Witherell, C. J 1828.
1824-Solomon Sibley, A. J. 1837.
1824-John Hunt, A. J. 1827. Deceased.
1827-Henry Chipman, A. J. 1832.
1828-William Woodbridge, C. J. 1832.
1832-George Morell, C. J. 1837.
1832-Ross Wilkins, A. J .. 1837.
26
202
JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
All the sessions of this court were held at Detroit, the capital of the territory.
The constitution of 1835 provided for a supreme court, the judges of which were to be appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, to hold for a term of seven years. By an act approved July 16, 1836, the court was made to consist of a chief justice and two associate justices, a majority of whom shall con- stitute a quorum. It was given essentially the same powers, except chancery, that the supreme court and superior circuit courts of the territory exercised. The state was divided into three circuits, and the supreme court was required to hold an annual term in each circuit. The term of the first circuit was held at Detroit, that of the second at Ann Arbor, and that of the third at Kalamazoo.
The revised statutes of 1838 made the supreme court consist of one chief and three associate justices, and gave it "original and appellate jurisdiction of all such matters and suits at law, and in equity and in probate cases," as might be lawfully brought before it; also, "juris- diction of suits, actions and matters brought before it by writ of certiorari, or writ of error." Authority was also given "to issue writs of error, certiorari, mandamus, habeas corpus, procedendo, super- sedeas," and other necessary writs and process for the due execution of the law. The supreme court was, moreover, given a general superin- tendence over inferior courts. Two annual terms were to be held at Detroit, two at Ann Arbor, one at Kalamazoo and one at Pontiac. Any two of the justices constituted a quorum for the transaction of business.
The revision of 1846 made no essential changes in the composition or the jurisdiction of the supreme court but altered its annual terms. Four terms were provided for, called the January, May, July and Oc- tober terms. The January term was held at Detroit, the May term at Kalamazoo, the July term at Jackson, and the October term at Pontiac.
The following is a list of supreme court judges under the constitu- tion of 1835:
Term began.
Term expired.
1836. William A. Fletcher, C. J 1842. Resigned.
1836. George Morrell, A. J.
1842. C. J , vice Fletcher, July 13, 1843.
1836. Epaphroditus Ransom, A. J 1842.
1838. Charles W. Whipple, A. J ..
1848. Additional justice.
1813. Epaphroditus Ransom, C. J. 1848.
1848. Charles W. Whipple, C. J. 1852.
1842. Alpheus Felch, A. J.
1845. Resigned.
1843. Daniel Goodwin, A. J.
1846. Resigned.
1845. Warner Wing, A. J.
1852. Vice Felch.
1846. George Miles, A. J.,
1850. Vice Goodwin; died in 1850.
1848. Sanford M. Green, A. J 1852.
1848. Edward Mundy, A. J.
1851. Additional A. J., deceased.
1850. Abner Pratt, A. J. 1852. Vice Miles, deceased.
1851. George Martin, A. J. 1852. Vice Mundy deceased.
.
203
JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
The constitution of 1850 provided that for the term of six years the .judges of the several circuit courts should be judges of the supreme court. Four of them were to constitute a quorum, and a concurrence of three was necessary to a final decision. There were five circuit judges in the state at that time, who constituted the first supreme court under the new constitution.
The court thus organized had "a general superintending control over all inferior courts," and had "power to issue writs of error, habeas corpus, mandamus, quo warranto, procedendo, and other original and remedial writs." In other cases it was given appellate jurisdiction only. Four annual terms were provided for. These were fixed by statute as follows: A January term to be held at Detroit; a May term at Kalamazoo; a July term at Adrian, and an October term at Pontiac. It was afterwards provided that a fifth annual term should be held at Lansing.
The following is the list of circuit judges holding supreme court for six years after the adoption of the new constitution:
John S. Goodrich. Elected April, 1851. Died before qualifying. Resigned, 1856.
Warner
George Martin.
Sanford M. Green.
.Resigned, 1857.
Joseph T. Copeland.
Samuel T. Douglass
Resigned, 1857.
David Johnson
Resigned, 1857.
Abner Pratt Resigned, 1857.
Charles W. Whipple. Died October, 1855.
Nathaniel Bacon .. October, 1855, vice Whipple.
Edward H. C. Wilson. November, 1856, vice Wing.
Benjamin F. H. Witherell. May, 1857, vice Douglass.
Benjamin F. Graves May, 1857, vice Pratt.
Josiah Turner
May, 1857, vice Green.
Edwin Lawrence . May, 1857, vice Johnson.
In 1857, acting under constitutional authority, the legislature re- organized the supreme court, making it consist of one chief and three associate justices, elected by the people for a term of eight years. The legislature of 1887 increased the number of justices to five, and the terms of the additional justice and all justices elected after 1887, to ten years.
Three constitute a quorum and they hold four regular annual terms. The first statutory regulation provided for a January and a July term at Detroit and a May and October term at Lansing. In 1859 the May term was changed to April. In 1873 all terms were ordered held at Lansing, and in 1875 the July term was changed to June.
The following is the list of the justices of the supreme court under its present organization:
204
JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
JUSTICES OF SUPREME COURT.
Under constitution of 1850.
Term for which elected.
George Martin (a) 1858-1867
Randolph Manning (b) 1858-1869
Thomas M. Cooley (c) (d) 1864-1869
James V. Campbell (d) 1858-1871
Isaac P. Christiancy (d). 1858-1873
Benjamin F. Graves (d) . 1868-1875
Thomas M. Cooley (d) (t). 1870-1877
James V. Campbell (d) ... 1872-1879
Isaac P Christiancy (e) (f). 1874-1881
Isaac Marston (d) (g) 1875-1881
Benjamin F. Graves (d) 1876-1881
Thomas M. Cooley (d) (h) 1878-1885
Allen B. Morse (¿). 1885-1885
James V. Campbell (d)
1880-1887
Charles D. Long . 1898-1907
a) Chief justice.
(b) Died in 1864.
Vice Manning, deceased.
d) Last two years as chief justice.
e) Resigned, Feb. 27, 1875.
(f) Died Sept. 8, 1890.
(g) Vice Christiancy, resigned.
(h) Resigned in 1885.
(¿) Vice Cooley, resigned.
(j) Resigned, Feb. 2, 1883.
(k) Vice Marston.
(2) Resigned, Aug. 30, 1892.
(m) Died March 26, 1890.
(n) Appointed to succeed Campbell, April 5 to Dec. 31.
(0) Elected to succeed Campbell.
(p) Chief justice to succeed Morse, Oct. 4 to Dec. 31, 1892.
(g) Appointed to fill vacancy tem- porarily.
(r) Elected to succeed Morse.
(8) Elected April 3, 1893, for full term.
Died in 1898.
(u) Elected April 3, 1899, for full term.
DISTRICT COURTS.
Soon after the organization of the territorial government, the gover- nor had divided the territory into four judicial districts, known as the districts of Erie, Huron, Detroit and Michilimackinac. An act was adopted on the twenty-fifth of July, 1805, establishing three district courts to be held by the judges of the supreme court, one for the dis- trict of Erie, another for the districts of Huron and Detroit, to hold two annual terms each; and one for the district of Michilimackinac, to hold one annual term. These courts were to have jurisdiction of de- mands exceeding $20. In 1807 the district courts were made to consist of a, chief judge and two associate judges, residents of the district, to be appointed by the governor and to hold office during good behavior ..
There are no records in the state department of appointments under this act, but merely entries of the return of two commissions, one by John Anderson, dated April 15, 1807, as chief justice of the district court of the district of Erie, and another to Samuel Abbott, dated July 16, 1807, as associate justice of the district court of the district of Michilimackinac.
These courts were abolished in 1810, and for the next five years there was no intermediate court between the supreme and justices' courts. By an act approved February 27, 1840, "the district court of the county of Wayne" was established, composed of a presiding judge ap-
Term for which elected.
Isaac Marston (j) 1882-1889
Thomas R. Sherwood (d) (k) .. 1882-1889
John W. Champlin (d) 1884-1891
Allen E. Morse (d) (l) 1886-1893
James V. Campbell (m). 1888-1890
.
Charles D. Long (d). 1888-1897
Edward Cahill (n) .. 1890-1890
John W. McGrath (d) (0) (p). 1891-1895 Claudius B. Grant (d) (u). 1890-1899 Robert M. Montgomery. 1892-1901
George H. Durand (q). 1892-1892
Frank A. Hooker (r) (s). 1894-1903.
Joseph B. Moore 1896-1905
205
JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
pointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, to hold four years and the two associate judges of the circuit court. This court had criminal jurisdiction only, but equal to that of the circuit courts. In 1843 a new act was passed, establishing a dis- trict court in each of the counties of Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw and Jackson, and the term of office of the presiding judge was lengthened to five years. These courts were all dropped by the revised statutes of 1846, as passed by the legislature, though retained in the original draft of the revision.
Henry Chipman was appointed presiding judge of the Wayne county district court in 1840, and held the office until the change in 1843. Then Benjamin F. H. Witherell was appointed presiding judge for the district courts of the four counties. He held until the court was abolished.
The constitution of 1850 provided that the counties of the upper peninsula and the islands appertaining thereto should constitute a separate judicial district. The district was to be elected for the same term, perform the same duties, and possess the same powers as the circuit judges. This court was abolished in 1863. Daniel Goodwin held the district judgeship until a circuit was organized in the upper peninsula.
COURT OF CHANCERY.
Upon the establishment of a state government, equity and common law jurisdiction was separated and vested in district courts. All equity powers were vested in a court of chancery exclusively, save that cer- tain exceptional cases might be taken to the supreme court, and ap- peals by any person aggrieved by the decree or final order of the court of chancery. This court held sessions, in turn, in each of the circuits into which the state was divided by the act establishing circuit courts. All causes were to be heard and determined in the circuits in which they arose. This court was abolished by the revised statutes of 1846, as passed by the legislature, although the original draft of the revision provided for its continuance, with some modifications intended to sim- plify and perfect the system. Its jurisdiction was conferred upon the several circuit courts, and it has remained there ever since.
The following is a list of chancellors:
Term began.
Term expired.
1836-Elon Farnsworth.
1842. Resigned.
1842-Randolph Manning. 1846. Resigned. 1
1846-Elon Farnsworth. 1847. Court abolished.
CIRCUIT COURTS.
In 1824 the three judges of the supreme court were required to hold an annual term in each of the counties of Wayne, Monroe, Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair and were authorized to hold special sessions in Crawford, Brown and Michilimackinac counties, whenever deemed ad- visable "in their sound discretion." In 1825 circuit courts were estab- lished by name, but were still held by the judges of the supreme court. The circuit court was given original jurisdiction in all civil ac- tions at law where the demand exceeded $1,000, of actions of ejectment, of all criminal cases punishable capitally, and of all cases not exclu-
206
JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
sively cognizable by other courts, concurrent jurisdiction with county - courts in civil actions beyond the jurisdiction of justices of the peace, .. and of criminal offenses not punishable capitally, and appellate juris- diction from county courts. The circuits were not changed by this act of 1825. Another act was passed in 1827, repealing the essential provi- sions of the acts of 1824 and 1825, and providing for two more circuits, viz., Washtenaw and Lenawee. The same discretionary powers as to holding terms in Crawford, Brown and Michilimackinac counties were continued.
In 1833 the county courts in all the counties of the territory east of Lake Michigan except Wayne were abolished and their places supplied by "the circuit court of the territory of Michigan." It consisted of one circuit judge for the entire circuit, and two associate judges for each county. The circuit judge was appointed for four years and the associate judges for three. The court had both chancery and common law jurisdiction and was given original jurisdiction of civil cases at . law and crimes not within the jurisdiction of a justice of the peace and appellate jurisdiction of such as were. It might also determine ques- tions of law arising on motions for new trial or in arrest of judgment. The circuit courts already existing were now called superior circuit courts, and were empowered to issue writs of error to the circuit. courts. William A. Fletcher was judge of the circuit court of the territory from the organization of that court until Michigan became a . state.
By act approved March 26, 1836, the state was divided into three cir- cuits, and judges of the supreme court were to perform the duties of circuit judges. These courts were given the same powers and jurisdic- tion as the territorial circuit courts under the act of 1833, except in chancery matters. By the revision of 1846 the court of chancery was abolished and chancery powers conferred upon the several circuit courts. Since then the jurisdiction of circuit courts has been essen- tially as at present. The constitution of 1850 made the office of circuit judge elective, and the term of office six years. The last act affecting the number of circuits was approved May 29, 1897, since which time there have been thirty-five circuits. Act No. 15, Public Acts of 1899, created the thirty-sixth circuit.
PROBATE COURTS.
By act of the governor and judges, adopted August 31, 1805, the courts of the several districts, or any judge of the said territory, or the clerk of the court of the district, were authorized to take the proof of wills. and grant letters testamentary and of administration. In 1811 provision was made for the appointment in each district of a register, with essentially the same powers. Finally, in 1818, a court of probate was. established in each county, to be held by "some able and learned per- son," appointed by the governor, from which court appeal might be. taken to the supreme court. These courts continued in operation until after Michigan had become a state.
The revised statutes of 1838 made the office of judge of probate elect- ive, for a term of four years. In different cases appeals were allowed to the circuit, or to the supreme court. The revision of 1846 provided for direct appeals to the circuit court only. The new constitution of 1850 provided for a probate court in each organized county, the judge of which was to be elected for a term of four years. These are the: present probate courts.
207
JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
COUNTY COURTS.
In 1815 county courts were first established, to be held by one chief and two associate justices appointed by the governor. They had ex- clusive jurisdiction over all claims exceeding a justice's jurisdiction and not exceeding $1,000, but no jurisdiction in ejectment. Until 1818. final appeal lay to the county court from justices' courts. Chancery jurisdiction was then given them and provision was made for the ap- pointment of masters in chancery. When the act to establish county courts was passed, Wayne county was the only one organized, and the district of Michilimackinac was excepted from the provisions of the act.
After the establishment of circuit courts the county courts began to. decline. Much of their jurisdiction was gradually transferred to the circuit courts and in 1833 they were abolished altogether in the organ- ized counties east of Lake Michigan, except Wayne, by the same act which established the old circuit court of the territory. In Wayne county, and in the western counties of the territory, the county court system was continued until Michigan became a state.
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