LAWS OF MARYLAND.—1719. 49
CHAPTER 4.
An ACT for the better supporting the Magistrates in the Administration of
Justice within this province. |
• |
WHEREAS it is obvious to this present session of assembly,
that there is an absolute necessity of a law for the better pre-
serving the honour, dignity and authority of his lordship, in
the persons of his magistrates in the administration of justice,
from the insults, affronts and indecent demeanor before them,
of the practitioners of the law, and other officers and persons,
that have hitherto been so frequent in all the courts of this pro-
vince, as well as out of court ; |
Preamble. |
SEC. 2. Be if therefore enacted, by the right honourable the
Lord Proprietor, by and with the advice and consent of his lord-
ship's Governor, and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly,
and by the authority of the same, That the several magistrates,
judges of the several courts within this province, be and are
hereby authorized and strictly required, to observe the demeanor
of all practitioners of the law before them, as well as all minis-
terial officers, or other persons who shall use any indecent
liberties to the lessening the grandeur and authority of their
respective courts, and to discountenance and punish the same,
according to the nature of the offence, either by suspending
such practitioner of the law from their practice, perpetually, or
for a time, or to punish such practitioners, or ministerial officers
or other persons, by fine, at the discretion of such court before
whom such offence shall be committed, not exceeding four
thousand pounds of tobacco in the superior courts, nor two
thousand pounds of tobacco in the several county courts,
within this province, on each offender, for any one offence. |
Courts may
punish
practition-
ers, &c. |
SEC. 3. And likewise, All and every the several magistrates,
in the execution of their office out of court, are hereby required,
in like manner, to observe the carriage and demeanor of all
persons whatsoever that shall come before them, and if any
person or persons shall behave themselves indecently towards
any of them (or contemn their authority when lawfully required
to assist them,) in the execution of their office, or otherwise, it
shall and may be lawful for any of the several courts within
tins province, upon information to them made by any such ma-
gistrate or magistrates, against any person or persons who have
so misbehaved themselves, or contemned their authority, with-
out any formality in law, to call such offender or offenders
before them, and punish them by fine, imprisonment, or by set-
ting in the stocks, at their discretion, the fine not to exceed one
thousand pounds of tobacco each offender, the imprisonment
not to exceed two days, nor the setting in the stocks above two
hours, for any one offence, all which fines to be levied by way
7 |
Magistrates
to observe
the conduct
of persons,
&c. |
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