1I. Bill for Establishing a Court of Appeals, [25 November 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
For establishing a court of Appeals for finally determining all suits and controversies, be it enacted by the General assembly that at such place as shall be appointed by act of General assembly there shall be holden a court of Appeals, < to consist of the Judges of the High court of Chancery, the Judges of the General court, and the Judges of the court of Admiralty, any nine of them to be a...
2II. Bill for Establishing a High Court of Chancery, [25 November 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
For establishing a Court of general Jurisdiction in Chancery, Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the commonwealth of Virginia, That at some certain place to be appointed by Act of General Assembly and at the times hereinafter directed shall be held a principal Court of Judicature for this commonwealth which shall be called the High Court of Chancery and shall consist of three judges to...
3III. Bill for Establishing a General Court, [25 November 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
For establishing a Court of Common Law of general jurisdiction for the more speedy and easy administration of Justice in this Commonwealth and for regulating the proceedings therein. Be it enacted That, at some certain place to be appointed by act of general assembly, and at the Times herein after directed, there shall be held one principal Court of Judicature for this Commonwealth; which...
4IV. Bill for Establishing a Court of Admiralty, [4 December 1776] (Jefferson Papers)
For establishing a court of Admiralty, Be it enacted by the General assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia that at some certain place to be appointed by act of General assembly there shall be held as often as there may be occasion a court of Admiralty to consist of three judges to be chosen by joint ballot of both houses of assembly and commissioned by the Governor any two of them to make a...
5V. Bill for Better Regulating the Proceedings in the County Courts, 4 December 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
For amendment of the act of General assembly passed in the year 1748 intituled ‘an act for establishing county courts, and for regulating and settling the proceedings therein’ be it enacted by the General assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia that instead of the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, the oath of abjuration and subscription to the test by the said act directed and the oath...
6Editorial Note: Drafts of Bills Establishing Courts of Justice (Jefferson Papers)
The remodeling of the judiciary was among Jefferson’s first objects as he embarked in Oct. 1776 on one of the most far-reaching legislative reforms ever undertaken by a single person. His ideas concerning an independent judiciary for the new commonwealth had been set forth in his proposed Constitution. Though the principal elements of his judicial system had at least been recognized in the...