1372 JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. [ART. 52

Qualification.

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 declara-
tion prescribed by the constitution; and upon his failure to do
so his office shall be deemed vacant.

Ibid. 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 decla-
ration required by law; and every person violating this section
shall, for each offense, forfeit and pay the sum of forty dollars.

Ibid. sec. 3. 1860, art. 51, sec. 3. 1814, ch. 62, 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 for-
feit and pay for every such offense the sum of forty dollars.

New Election Districts and New Wards of Baltimore City.

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

4. For each new election district that may be formed and
established 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. 1860, art. 51, sec. 5. 1791, ch. 68, sec. 1.

5. Any justice of the peace of the county where the defend-
ant resides may, if the case be within his jurisdiction, try,
hear and determine 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.

Ibid. 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