216 CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. 
ARTICLE YI. 
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. 
Sec. 1 . The judicial power of this State shall be vested in a Supreme 
Court, in District Courts, in County Courts, and in Justices of the Peace. 
The Legislature may also establish such municipal and other inferior courts as 
may be deemed necessary. 
Sec. 2. The Supreme Court shall consist of a Chief Justice, and two Asso¬ 
ciate Justices, any two of whom shall constitute a quorum. 
Sec. 3. The Justices of the Supreme Court shall be elected at the general 
election, by the qualified electors of the State, and shall hold their office for 
the term of six years from the first day of January next after their election; 
provided that the Legislature shall, at its first meeting, elect a Chief Justice 
and two Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, by joint vote of both 
houses, and so classify them that one shall go out of office every two years. 
After the first election, the senior Justice in commission shall be the Chief 
Justice. 
Sec. 4. The Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction in all cases 
when the matter in dispute exceeds two hundred dollars, when the legality 
of any tax, toll, or impost or municipal fine is in question: and in all criminal 
cases amounting to felony, or questions of law alone. And the said court, 
and each of the Justices thereof, as well as all district and county judges, 
shall have power to issue writs of habeas corpus, at the instance of any per¬ 
son held in actual custody. They shall also have power to issue all other 
writs and process necessary to the exercise of the appellate jurisdiction, and 
shall be conservators of the peace throughout the State. 
Sec. 5. The State shall be divided by the first Legislature into a convenient 
number of districts, subject to such alteration from time to time as the pub¬ 
lic good may require; for each of which a district judge shall be appointed 
by the joint vote of the legislature, at its first meeting, who shall hold his 
office for two years from the first day of January next after his election; 
after which, said judges shall be elected by the qualified electors of their 
respective districts, at the general election, and shall hold their office for the 
term of six years. 
Sec. 6. The District Courts shall have original jurisdiction, in law and 
equity, in all civil cases where the amount in dispute exceeds two hundred 
dollars, exclusive of interest. In all criminal cases not otherwise provided 
for, and in all issues of fact joined in the probate courts, their jurisdiction 
shall be unlimited. 
Sec. 7. The legislature shall provide for the election, by the people, of a 
Clerk of the Supreme Court, and County Clerks, District Attorneys, Sheriffs, 
Coroners, and other necessary officers; and shall fix by law their duties and 
compensation. County Clerks shall be, ex-officio , Clerks of the District Courts 
in and for their respective counties. 
Sec. 8. There shall be elected in each of the organized counties of this State, 
one County Judge who shall hold his office for four years. He shall hold the 
County Court, and perform the duties of Surrogate, or Probate Judge. The 
