44 Constitution of the [Art. 4.

ARTICLE IV.

JUDICIARY DEPARTMENT.
Part I.�General Provisions.

The Judicial Power
how vested.

17 Md. 331.

Section 1. The Judicial power of this State shall be
vested in a Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, Orphans'
Courts, such Courts for the City of Baltimore as may be
hereinafter prescribed or provided for, and Justices of the
Peace; all said Courts shall be Courts of Record, and each
shall have a seal, to be used in the authentication of all
process issuing from them. The process and official char-
acter of Justices of the Peace shall be authenticated as
hath heretofore been practised in this State, or may here-
after be prescribed by law.

Qualifications of
Judges.

Sec. 2. The Judges of the several Courts, except the
Judges of the Orphans' Courts, shall be citizens of the
United States, and residents of this State, not less than five
years next preceeding their election, or appointment by the
Executive in case of a vacancy; and not less than one year
next preceding their election or appointment, residents in
the Judicial District or Circuit, as the case may be, for
which they may be elected or appointed; they shall be not
less than thirty years of age at the time of their election
and selected from those who have been admitted to prac-
tice law in this State, and who are most distinguished for
integrity, wisdom and sound legal knowledge.

Elections of
Judges.

Sec. 3. The Judges of the Court of Appeals shall be
elected by the qualified voters of the State; and the Gov-
ernor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate,
shall designate the Chief Justice; and the Judges of the
Judicial Circuits shall be elected by the qualified voters of
their respective Circuits; each Judge of the Court of
Appeals and of each Judicial Circuit shall hold his office

Term of Office.

for the term of fifteen years, from the time of his election,
or until he shall have attained the age of seventy years
whichever may first happen, and be re-eligible thereto until