which, by reason of depreciation, overcrowding, faulty
arrangement or design, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary
facilities, or any combination of these factors, are detrimen-
tal to the public safety, health or morals. The term "blighted
area" shall mean an area in which a majority of buildings
have declined in productivity by reason of obsolescence,
depreciation or other causes to an extent they no longer
justify fundamental repairs and adequate maintenance.

(2) To sell, lease, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose
of any of said land or property, regardless of whether or not
it has been developed, redeveloped, altered or improved
and irrespective of the manner or means in or by which it
may have been acquired, to any private, public or quasi
public corporation, partnership, association, ^son or
other legal entity.

No land or property taken by any county or any munic-
ipal corporation for any of the aforementioned purposes or
in connection with the exercise of any of the powers which
may be granted to such county or municipal corporation
pursuant to this section by exercising the powe^ of eminent
domain shall be taken without just compensation, as agreed
upon between the parties, or awarded by a jury, being first
paid or tendered to the party entitled to such compensation.

All land or property needed, or taken by the exercise of
the power of eminent domain, by any county or any
municipal corporation for any of the aforementioned pur-
poses or in connection with the exercise of any of the
powers which may be granted pursuant to this Section is
hereby declared to be needed or taken for public uses and
pulses. Any or all of the activities authorized pursuant
to this section shall constitute governmental functions
undertaken for public uses and pu^poses and the powe^ of
taxation may be exercised, public funds expended and
public credit extended in furtherance thereof.

(b) The General Assembly may grant to any county or
any municipal corporation, by public local law, any and all
additional power and authority necessary or proper to carry
into full force and effect any and all of the specific powers
authorized by this section and to fully accomplish any and
all of the purposes and objects contemplated by the provis-
ions of this section, provided such additional power or
authority is not inconsistent with the terms and provisions
of this section or with any other provision or provisions of
the Constitution of Maryland.

(c) The General Assembly of Maryland, by public local
law, may establish or authorize the establishment of a
public body or agency to undertake in a county or munic-
ipal corporation (other than Baltimore City) the activities
authorized by this section, and may provide that any or all
of the powers, except the power of taxation, herein author-
ized to be granted to such county or municipal corporation
shall be vested in such public body or agency or in any
existing public body or agency.

(d) The General Assembly may place such other and
further restrictions or limitations on the exercise of any of

Constitution of Maryland/653

the powe^s provided for in this section, as it may deem
proper and expedient.

(e) The provisions of this section arc independent of,
and shall in no way affect, the powers granted under Article
XIB of the Constitution of Maryland, title "City of Balti-
more—Land Development and Redevelopment." Also,
the power provided in this section for the General Assem-
bly to enact public local laws authorizing any municipal
corporation or any county to carry out urban renewal
projects prevails over the restrictions contained in Article
XI-A "Local Legislation" and in Article XI-E "Municipal
Corpo^ations" of this Constitution.

ARTICLE IV

JUDICIAKT DEBiKTMENT.

Part I—General Provisions.

SECTION I.93 The Judicial powe^ of this State is
vested in a Court of Appeals, such intermediate courts of
appeal as the General Assembly may create bylaw, Circuit
Courts, Orphans'Courts, and a District Court. These Courts
shall be Courts of Record, and each shall have a seal to be
used in the authentication of all process issuing from it.

SEC. 1 A.94 The several Courts existing in this State at
the time of the adoption of this Constitution shall, until
superseded under its provisions, continue with like powers
and jurisdiction, and in the exercise thereof, both at Law
and in Equity, in all respects, as if this Constitution had not
been adopted; and when said Courts shall be so super-
seded, all causes, then depending in said Courts shall pass
into the jurisdiction of the several Courts, by which they
may, respectively be superseded.

SEC. 2.95 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 not less
than five years, and not less than six months next preceding
their election, or appointment, as the case may be, in the
city, county district, judicial circuit, intermediate appellate
judicial circuit or appellate judicial circuit for which they
may be, respectively, elected, or appointed. They shall be
not 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.

SEC. S.96 Except for Judges of the District Court, the
Judges of the several Courts other than the Court of
Appeals or any intermediate courts of appeal shall, subject
to the provisions of Section 5 of this Amdc of the Consti-
tution, be elected in Baltimore City and in each county, by
the qualified voters of the city and of each county, respec-
tively, all of the said Judges to be elected at the general
election to be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday
in November, as now provided for in the Constitution.
Each of the said Judges shall hold his office for the term of
fifteen years from the time of his election, and until his