A person to be a member of the Court of Appeals must be thirty-five years old and a citizen of the State for five years. He must have resided two years in the judicial district from which he is elected.
The Court of Appeals or Supreme Court is the highest court of the State. This court is the State court of last resort.
The judges of the Court of Appeals are elected by the people for a term of eight years, commencing on the first Monday in January succeeding their election.
The cases tried before the Court of Appeals are usually appealed to it from the lower courts.
There are certain classes of cases that come before the Court of Appeals for first trial in which is involved the question of official action of State officers.
Circuit Court.
The circuit judge holds this court first in one county and then in another until the circuit of the counties which compose his district is completed.
Circuit court is held in the court house of the county seat two or three times a year, presided over by the judge of that district elected by the voters. (In case of a vacancy the Governor of the State appoints some lawyer to fill his place.) The majority of important cases are tried in this court, because a jury trial may always be had in the circuit court.
The Constitution of the United States provides that every man or woman shall have the right to trial by jury in all criminal cases, and in civil cases involving a sum of more than $20.00.
Twelve citizens known as a grand jury usually meet at the time the circuit court convenes. All violations of law are investigated, and persons found guilty are indicted by the grand jury.