APRIL AND SEPTEMBER TERMS OF 1873, BY ARTHUR MACARTHUR, ASSOCIATE JUSTICE. W. H. & O. H. MORRISON, BOOKSELLERS: 1875. * The death of Mr. Leech has occurred since these reports were completed and Hon. Thomas Hood has been appointed in his place. PREFACE. The Supreme Court of this District is organized by the act of March 3, 1863, and is the only court of original and superior jurisdiction, for local purposes, at the seat of the General Government. In addition to the powers and jurisdiction of a circuit and district court of the United States, it has general jurisdiction in law and equity; it can also proceed in all common-law and chancery causes instituted before it, in which either of the parties reside without the District, as was done in the supreme court of chancery in the State of Maryland on the 3d day of May, 1802. It has also power, at the general terms, to hear and determine all appeals from the decisions of the Commissioner of Patents, where the party appealing is dissatisfied with the action of the Commissioner. It exercises the powers and duties of the late orphans' court, and administers the estates of deceased persons; and it holds terms for the trial of all crimes and offenses arising within the District. The proceedings in the police court and before justices of the peace may also be removed into the supreme court by appeal for final determination, and it is the only local tribunal in the District having original power to issue the writ of mandamus to heads of Departments and other inferior officers in regard to the performance of ministerial duties. To this court is intrusted the execution of the laws which protect the officers of the General Government, the representatives of the people in both branches of Congress, the employés in the various Departments, as well as the citizens from every part of the country who visit the capital either from motives of business or inclination. The law, equity, and criminal business of which the court has cognizance, is transacted at special terms, held by a single justice; and any party aggrieved by the order, judg ment, or decree pronounced at such terms may appeal therefrom to the general term, held by all the justices, or three of them at least, sitting in banc. |