Chap. 124.—An ACT to provide a special Court of Appeals.

Approved February 28, 1872. -

Whereas, it appears that the business of the court of appeal
has increased so much by reason of the numerous questions t
which the war has given rise, that the causes upon its docke

f cannot be conveniently tried within a reasonable time: there
fore, be it enacted,
1. That the court of appeals shall designate annually three
judges of the circuit courts, to constitute a special court of
appeals, who shall assemble in the city of Richmond annually w!
on such day as the court of appeals may designate, and hold a “?
court for the trial of such causes, civil and criminal, as the me
court of appeals cannot dispose of with convenient dispatch, »
and shall certify to it, as provided in article sixth, section three,
of the constitution of the state, not exceeding fifty at a time.

2. The terms of the said court shall continue, if the business Ho
require it, for ninety days and not longer in any one year, and fy,
if from any other cause any of the said judges shall be unable va
to sit, the court of appeals shall designate some other judge or jii
judges to take his or their place.

3. The duties of the clerk of said court shall be performed w
by the clerk of the court of appeals, or such deputy as he may “
appoint, with approbation of the said special court.

4. The sheriff of the city of Richmond, or one of his depu- st
ties shall attend the sittings of the said court, and perform all }j,
the duties now performed by the crier and tipstaff of the court cr
of appeals.

5. The said special court shall keep a record of all its pro- r
ceedings, judgments and decrees, which shall be filed in the hy
clerk's office of the court of appeals.

6. The judges of the said special court of appeals shall re- M
ceive as compensation the mileage and per diem that members “
of the general assembly are entitled to by law.

7. The records in the cases in the said court shall be printed R
under the laws now in force, or which may be hereafter enacted f;
for printing records of the court of appeals, and except as >!
herein provided, all the laws applicable to the court of appeals ;
‘shall be applicable to the said special court of appeals.

8. The said special court shall have power to adjourn from A
day to day, or from time to time, and when compelled to adjourn °
by necessity of holding circuit courts, it shall adjourn to some
day after that necessity has ceased, of which it shall notify the
court of appeals. The supreme court of appeals shall cause #
to be reported and published by its reporter such of the de- 4
cisions of the said special court of appeals as it may deem of m
sufficient public importance. For which, such compensation }}
shall be allowed and paid out of the treasury as may be certi- ti
fied by said supreme court of appeals to be proper.

9. This act shall be in force from its passage, and so con- c
tinue for two years unless the supreme court of appeals shall ¢
enter an order of record that the existence of said court is no F
longer necessary: provided, that said special court shall not aq
decide any question arising under the homestead provision of ,
the constitution of Virginia. t