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of general jurisdiction,
It was our considered view, after much research
and thought, that the most feasible and practical manner
of adopting into a unified uniform court structure the
chaotic condition now existing in Maryland in the courts
of limited Jurisdiction was by adopting in the unified
court system the fourth tier, namely the District Court,
to take over the jursidiction of the trial magistrates
and people's courts and by whatever other name the
courts of limited jurisdiction are now operating in the
State of Maryland.
Basic to our recommendation is that courts at
all levels shall be peopled by judges, full-time judges
who are lawyers. We think without that requirement the
situation cannot be improved to meet the expanding case
loads and mounting litigation now rising and increasing
fro» day to day in our complex society.
We acknowledge that the proposed court structure
does not include in the plan the existing Orphans' Court
system. As some of you may know, there has been a
movement and recommendation in the state for years that