(ART. IV, PART 1.—CONSTITUTION OF MARYLAND.)

THE JUDICIAL POWER.

SECTION 1. The judicial power of this State shall be
vested in a Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, Orphans'
Courts, such courts for the city of Baltimore as are here-
inafter provided for, and justices of the peace; all said
courts shall be courts of record, and each shall have a seal
to be used in the authentication of all process issuing'
therefrom. The process and official character of justices
of the peace shall be authenticated as hath heretofore
been practiced in this State, or may hereafter be pre-
scribed by law.

QUALIFICATIONS OF JUDGES.

SEC. 2. The judges of all of the said courts shall be
citizens of the State of Maryland, and qualified voters
under this Constitution, and shall have resided therein
notless than five years, and not less than six months next
preceding their election or appointment, in the judicial
circuit, as the case may be, for which they may be, res-
pectively, elected or appointed. They shall not bo less
than thirty years of age at the time of their election or
appointment, and shall be selected from those who have
been admitted to practice law in this State, and who are
most distinguished for integrity, wisdom and sound legal
knowledge.
ELECTION OF JUDGES.-—TERM OF OFFICE.

SEC. 3. the judges of the said several courts shall be
elected in the counties by the qualified voters in their
respective judicial circuits, as hereinafter provided, at
the general election to be held on the Tuesday after the
first Monday in November next, and in the city of Balti-
more, on the fourth Wednesday of October next. Each
of the said judges shall hold his office for the term of
fifteen years from the time of his election, and until his
successor is elected and qualified, or until he shall have
attained the age of seventy years, whichever may first
happen, and be re-eligible thereto until he shall have
attained the age of seventy years, and not after; but in
case of any Judge who shall attain the age of seventy
years whilst in office, such Judge may be continued in