Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor                   263

extensive with the limits of the State and such as now is or may
hereafter be prescribed by law. It shall hold its sessions in the City
of Annapolis [on the second Monday in January in the year 1945,
and thereafter] at such time or times as it shall from time to time
by rule prescribe. Its session or sessions shall continue not less than
ten months in each year, if the business before it shall so require, and
it shall be competent for the judges temporarily to transfer their
sittings elsewhere upon sufficient cause. The salary of each Judge
of the Court of Appeals shall be that now or hereafter prescribed
by the General Assembly and shall not be diminished during his
continuance in office. [When the number of Judges shall have become
reduced to five, three] Three of the Judges shall constitute a quorum,
and the concurrence of a majority of a quorum shall be sufficient
for the decision of any cause.

Sec. 15. [Four of said Judges shall constitute a quorum; no cause
shall be decided without the concurrence of at least three; but the]
The Judge who heard the cause below [,] shall not participate in the
decision; in every case an opinion, in writing, shall be filed within
three months after the argument, or submission of the cause; and the
judgment of the Court shall be final and conclusive; and all cases
shall stand for hearing at the first term after the transmission of
the Record.

Sec. 17. There shall be a Clerk of the Court of Appeals, who
[, after the expiration of the current term of the present incumbent,]
shall be appointed by and shall hold his office at the pleasure of said
Court of Appeals.

Sec. 18. It shall be the duty of the Judges of the Court of Appeals
[, as soon after their election, under this Constitution, as practicable,]
to make and publish rules and regulations for the prosecution of
appeals to said appellate Court, whereby they shall prescribe the
periods within which appeals may be taken, what part or parts of
the proceedings in the Court below shall constitute the record on
appeal, and the manner in which such appeals shall be brought to
hearing or determination, and shall regulate, generally, the practice
of said Court of Appeals, so as to prevent delays, and promote brevity
in all records and proceedings brought into said Court, and to abolish
and avoid all unnecessary costs and expenses in the prosecution of
appeals therein; and the said Judges shall make such reduction in
the fees and expenses of the said Court as they may deem advisable.
It shall also be the duty of said Judges of the Court of Appeals [, as
soon after their election as practicable,] to devise, and promulgate
by rules, or orders, forms and modes of framing and filing bills,
answers, and other proceedings and pleadings in Equity; and also
forms and modes of taking and obtaining evidence, to be used in
Equity cases; and to revise and regulate, generally, the practice in
the Courts of Equity of this State, so as to prevent delays, and to
promote brevity and conciseness in all pleadings and proceedings
therein, and to abolish all unnecessary costs and expenses attending
the same. And all rules and regulations hereby directed to be made,
shall, when made, have the force of Law, until rescinded, changed,
or modified by the said Judges, or the General Assembly.

Sec. 19. The State shall be divided into eight Judicial Circuits,
in manner following, viz.: The Counties of Worcester, Wicomico,