which, by reason of depreciation, overcrowding, faulty
arrangement or design, lack of ventilation, light or sanitary
facilities, or any combination of these factors, are detri-
mental 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 ofobso-
lescence, depreciation or other causes to an extent they no
longer justify fundamental repairs and adequate mainte-
nance.

(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 im-
proved 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, person
or other legal entity.

No land or property taken by any county or any munici-
pal 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 power 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
purposes. Any or all of the activities authorized pursuant
to this section shall constitute governmental functions
undertaken for public uses and purposes and the power 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 provisions 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 munici-
pal 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 corpora-
tion 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

the powers provided for in this section, as it may deem
proper and expedient.

(e) The provisions of this section are independent of,
and shall in no way affect, the powers granted under
Article XIB of the Constitution of Maryland, title "City
of Baltimore—Land Development and Redevelopment."
Also, the power provided in this section for the General
Assembly to enact public local laws authorizing any mu-
nicipal 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 Corporations" of this Constitution.

ARTICLE IV.

JUDICLA RY DEPARTMENT.

SECTION I.⁹⁷ The Judicial power of this State is
vested in a Court of Appeals, such intermediate courts of
appeal as the General Assembly may create by law, 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.

QO

SEC. 1A. 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
superseded, all causes, then depending in said Courts shall
pass into the jurisdiction of the several Courts, by which
they may, respectively, be superseded.

SEC. 2.⁹⁹The 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 tor integrity, wis-
dom and sound legal knowledge.

ion
SEC. 3. 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 Article of the Constitution,
be elected in Baltimore City and in each county, by the
qualified voters of the city and of each county, respectively,
all of me 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 rime of his election, and until his successor is elected and