1282 JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. [ART. 52

Qualification.

1904, art. 52, sec. 1. 1888, art, 52, sec. 1. 1860, art. 51. sec. 1. 1852, ch 172

1854, ch. 18.

1. Within thirty days after his commission shall have been received
in the clerk's office of the county or city, every justice of the peace
shall take and subscribe the oaths and declaration prescribed by the
constitution; and upon his failure to do so his office shall be deemed
vacant.

Ibid. sec. 2. 1888, art. 52, sec. 2. 1860, art. 51, sec. 2. 1814, ch. 82, sec. 3.

2. No person commissioned as a justice of the peace shall act as
such before he has taken the oath and made the declaration required
by law; and every person violating this section shall, for each offense,
forfeit and pay the sum of forty dollars.

Ibid. sec. 3. 1888. art. 52, sec. 3. 1860, art. 51, sec. 3. 1814, ch. 82, sec. 4.

3. If any justice of the peace, having qualified as such, shall accept
any office under the government of the United States and shall still
act as justice of the peace, he shall forfeit and pay for every such offense
the sum of forty dollars.

New Election Districts and New Wards of Baltimore City.

Ibid. sec. 4. 1888, art. 52, sec. 4. 1860, art. 51, sec. 4. 1852, ch. 274, sec. 3.

4. For each new election district that may be formed and estab-
lished in the several counties and for each additional ward that may be
created in the city of Baltimore, there shall be appointed, as prescribed
by the constitution, two justices of the peace, unless a different number
be specially provided by law.

Civil Jurisdiction.

. Ibid. sec. 5. 1888, art. 52, sec. 5. 1860, art. 51, sec. 5. 1791. ch. 68, sec. 1.

5. Any justice of the peace of the county where the defendant
resides may, if the case be within his juriadiction, try, hear and deter-
mine the matter in controversy between the plaintiff and defendant
upon full hearing of the allegations and evidence of both parties and
shall give judgment according to the law of the land and the equity
and right of the matter.

As to the amendment of proceedings before a Justice of the peace, see art.
75, sec. 35. (See also, art. 52, sec. 14.)

Ibid. sec. 6. 1888. art. 52, sec. 6. 1860. art. 51. sec. 13. 1791, ch. 68. 1809,

ch. 76, sec. 1. 1824. ch. 138. 1825, ch. 51. 1834, ch. 296. 1852,

ch. 239, sec. 1. 1898, ch. 167. 1900, ch. 302.

6. The civil jurisdiction of justices of the peace extends to all cases
for the enforcement of contracts and to obtain redress for wrongs where
the debt or damages claimed shall not exceed one hundred dollars; to
all suits on bonds with penalty exceeding one hundred dollars where