1. we come now to the lowest grade of united states courts, excepting the local courts in the district of columbia, and the territorial courts. a united states district court is held by a district judge in every district. every state constitutes at least one district, several of the larger states are divided into two, and some into three. there are at the present time fifty-nine judicial districts, and consequently the same number of district judges, district attorneys, district clerks and marshals. the judges, attorneys and marshals are all appointed by the president and senate; the clerks by the respective courts.

terms.

2. by the law of 1789 every district judge was required to hold four sessions a year, at such times and in such places as congress directed. this is done to this day in a great majority of the states; but by later laws, in some of the districts only two or three sessions a year are required.

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jurisdiction.

3. these courts have exclusive jurisdiction in all admiralty and maritime causes. these relate to maritime contracts, and to crimes against the laws of the united states, committed on the sea and on navigable lakes and rivers. it embraces in this country all contracts respecting vessels and navigation; such as chartering, repairing, and fitting them out, seamen’s wages, &c. they have in some cases concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts, as in cases of piracy, and exclusive cognizance of cases where seizures are made for a violation of the revenue laws, or laws relating to imports and navigation; and causes against consuls and vice consuls where the amount claimed does not exceed $100. in short, they have concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit courts, of all crimes against the laws of the united states, the punishment of which is not capital. the trial of issues of fact in all causes except civil causes of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction, must be by jury.

4. appeals are taken from these courts to the circuit courts. the judges are appointed like those of the supreme court, for life, or during good behavior, and receive various amounts as salary, some more and some less, according to the amount of services to be performed in their respective districts.

5. when vessels are captured in time of war, either by the public armed vessels or by private armed ships, the facts and circumstances of the capture must be brought before a united states circuit or district court for adjudication; when the vessel and cargo are either condemned as a prize, or restored to their owners. when either of these courts adjudicate such cases, it is called a prize court.

we give the number of judicial districts in each state as they now exist, and the total number in all the states. they are as follows:

alabama, 3.

arkansas, 2.

california, 2.

connecticut, 1.

mississippi, 2.

missouri, 2.

nevada, 1.

[436]new hampshire, 1.

delaware, 1.

florida, 2.

georgia, 2.

illinois, 2.

indiana, 1.

iowa, 1.

kansas, 1.

kentucky, 1.

louisiana, 2.

maine, 1.

maryland, 1.

massachusetts, 1.

michigan, 2.

minnesota, 1.

district of columbia, 1.

new jersey, 1.

new york, 3.

north carolina, 3.

nebraska, 1.

ohio, 2.

oregon, 1.

pennsylvania, 2.

rhode island, 1.

south carolina, 2.

tennessee, 3.

texas, 2.

vermont, 1.

virginia, 1.

west virginia, 1.

wisconsin, 1.

total, 59.