Sect. 1st. The Judiciary power of this State, both as to matters of law and equity, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, in Circuit Courts, and in such other inferior Courts, as the General Assembly may from time to time, direct and establish.
Sect. 2nd. The Supreme Court shall consist of three Judges, any two of whom shall form a quorum, and shall have appellate Jurisdiction only which shall be co-extensive with the limits of the State, under such restriction, and regulations, not repugnant to this constitution, as may from time to time be prescribed by law. Provided nothing in this article shall be so construed, as to prevent the General Assembly from giving the Supreme Court original Jurisdiction in Capital cases, and cases in chancery, where the President of the Circuit Court, may be interested or prejudiced.
Sect. 3rd. The Circuit Courts shall each consist of a President, and two associate Judges. The State shall be divided by law into three circuits, for each of which, a presdient shall be appointed, who during his continuance in office, shall reside therein. The President and associate Judges, in their respective Counties, shall have Common law and chancery Jurisdiction, as also complete criminal Jurisdiction, in all such cases and in such manner, as may be prescribed by law. The President alone, in the absence of the associate Judges, or the President and one of the associate Judges, in the absence of the other shall be competent to hold a Court, as also the two associate Judges, in the absence of the President, shall be competent to hold a Court, except in capital cases, and cases in chancery, provided, that nothing herein contained, shall prevent the General Assembly from increasing the number of circuits, and Presidents, as the exigencies of the State may from time to time require.
Sect. 4. The Judges of the supreme Court, the Circuit, and other inferior Courts, shall hold their offices during the term of seven years, if they shall so long behave well, and shall at stated times receive for their services, a compensation which shall not be diminished, during their continuance in office.
Sect. 5. The Judges of the Supreme Court shall be virtue of their offices, be conservators of the peace throughout the State, as also the Presidents of the Circuit Courts, in their respective Circuits, and the associate Judges in their respective Counties.
Sect. 6. The Supreme Court shall hold its sessions at the seat of Government, at such times as shall be prescribed by law: And the circuit Courts shall be held in the respective Counties as may be directed by law.
Sect. 7. The Judges of the supreme Court shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice, and consent of the senate. The Presidents of the circuit Courts shall be appointed by Joint Ballot of both branches of the General Assembly, and the associate Judges of the Circuit Courts, shall be elected by the qualified electors in the respective Counties.
Sect. 8. The supreme Court shall appoint its own Clerk, and the clerks of the circuit Court, in the several Counties, shall be elected by the qualified electors, in the several Counties, but no person shall be eligible to the office of clerk of the Circuit Court in any County, unless he shall first have obtained, from one or more of the Judges of the Supreme Court, or from one or more of the Presidents of the Circuit Courts, a certificate that he is qualified to execute the duties of the office of Clerk of the circuit Court; provided that nothing herein Contained shall prevent the circuit Courts in each County, from appointing a clerk pro tem, until a qualified Clerk may be duly elected, and provided also, that the said clerks respectively when qualified, and elected, shall hold their offices seven years, and no longer, unless re-appointed.
Sect. 9. All clerks shall be removable by impeachment as in other cases.
Sect. 10. When any vacancies happen in any of the Courts occasioned by the death, resignation, or removal from office of any Judge of the supreme, or Circuit Courts, or any of the clerks of the said Courts, a successor shall be appointed in the same manner, as herein before prescribed, who shall hold his office for the period which his predecessor had to serve, and no longer unless re-appointed.
Sect. 11. The style of all process shall be "The State of Indiana." All prosecutions shall be carried on in the name and by the authority of the State of Indiana; and all indictments shall conclude, against the peace and dignity of the same.
Sect. 12. A competent number of Justices of the peace shall be elected by the qualified electors in each Township, in the several Counties, and shall continue in office five years, if they shall so long behave well, whose powers, and duties shall, from time to time, be regulated and defined by law.