JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. 205 



imposed by such stipendiary justices amount to or exceed £5 ; 

 or where imprisonment, even for a week, is imposed. 



This court is presided over by the Chief Justice of the colony, 

 assisted by the two puisne judges. 



The {t Supreme Court n has a primary jurisdiction in all 

 cases where the subject matter does not exceed £200, or in actions 

 for the recovery of the possession of lands where the annual rent 

 or value does not exceed the sum of £20. 



This court is held every fortnight in Port- of- Spain, and once 

 a month in the town of San Fernando. It is presided over by 

 one of the judges, and is governed by the same rules, with some 

 slight modifications, as the " Supreme Court." 



The ' ' Supreme Court " sits five times a year for the disposal 

 of criminal matters and gaol delivery, and every fortnight for 

 the disposal of cases not triable by jury. 



Jurors are empanelled to try all criminal and civil cases 

 pending before the " Supreme Court." In the summary juris- 

 diction of this court any judge has the power to order a jury of 

 five to be empanelled in any case pending before such court. 



The " Supreme Court " has power to sit at any time 

 except during the long vacation, which commences on the 26th 

 of June, and ends on the 3rd of October in each year. 



Appeals to Her Majesty in her Privy Council lie in all cases 

 in the " Supreme Court " where the claim exceeds £500 sterling. 



Court of Vice-Admiralty. — This court is presided over by the 

 Chief Justice of the colony, and derives its jurisdiction and 

 powers under the 2nd William IV., entitled " An Act to regulate 

 the practice and fees in the Vice- Admiralty Courts abroad, and 

 to obviate doubts as to their jurisdiction." 



Petty Civil Court. — This is a court having a summary juris- 

 diction in all pleas of personal actions, both in the town of Port- 

 of-Spain and the rural districts, where the debt or damage 

 claimed does not exceed £10 sterling. This court has no juris- 

 diction in ejectment, or where the title to land arises, or as to 

 the validity of any devise, bequest, or limitation under any will, 

 or in cases of trover, or in any action of tort. In the town of 

 Port-of-Spain it is presided over by a commissioner, and in the 

 town of San Fernando and the rural districts by the stipendiary 

 justices of San Fernando and such rural districts. No appeal 

 lies from the decisions of the Petty Civil Court of Port-of-Spain, 



