COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE PROPOSAL No. 4-1
Introduced …………… By Frank H. Sommer Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary
ARTICLE – – – JUDICIAL
Section I
1. The judicial power shall be vested in a Supreme Court, a General Court and inferior courts of limited jurisdiction. The inferior courts and their jurisdiction may from time to time be established, altered or abolished by law.
Section II
1. The Supreme Court shall consist of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. Five members of the court shall constitute a quorum. When necessary, the Chief Justice shall assign the Judge or Judges of the General Court, senior in service, as provided by rules of the Supreme Court, to serve temporarily in the Supreme Court.
2. The Supreme Court shall exercise appellate jurisdiction in the last resort in all causes provided in this Constitution.
3. The Supreme Court shall make rules governing the administration and, subject to law, the practice and procedure in all the courts in the State. The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction over the admission to the practice of law and the discipline of persons admitted.
Section III
1. The General Court shall consist of such number of Judges as may be authorized by law, but not less than twenty-four, each of whom shall exercise the powers of the court subject to rules of the Supreme Court.
2. The General Court shall have original general jurisdiction throughout the State in all causes, excluding, unless otherwise provided by law, probate and criminal causes.
3. The General Court shall be divided into an Appellate Division, a Law Division, and an Equity Division. Each division shall have such Parts, consist of such number of Judges, and hear such causes, as may be provided by rules of the Supreme Court.
4. Subject to rules of the Supreme Court, the Law Division and the Equity Division shall each exercise the powers and functions of the other division when the ends of justice so require; and legal
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