An Act To establish Courts of Sessions

Inscription of the text: An Act To establish Courts of Sessions. SECT. 1. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Legislature assembled, That there shall be a Court of Sessions in the several counties within this State, to consist of one Chief Justice and not exceeding four nor less than two Associate Justices at the discretion of the Governor and Councill, a majority of whom appointed for any county may constitute a quorum for doing business; to be appointed and commissioned by the Governor with advice and consent of Council, as soon as conveniently may be, who are hereby vested with all powers relative to the erection and repair of gaols, and other county buildings, the allowance and settlement of county accounts, the estimate, apportionment and issuing warrants, for assessing county taxes, granting licences, laying out, altering and discontinuing highways, appointing Committees and ordering Juries for that purpose; as well as all other duties appertaining to a Court of Sessions. SECT. 2. BE it further enacted, That the Courts of Sessions of the shall be holden within and for the several counties in this State, at the times and places following, to wit: within and for the county York at York, on the Tuesday next preceding the third Monday of April, and at Alfred on the Tuesday next preceding the second Monday in September; within and for the county of Oxford, at Paris on the third Tuesday of June and first Tuesday of October; within and for the county of Cumberland, at Portland, on the fourth Tuesday in March, and on the second Tuesday in September; within and for the county of Kennebec, at Augusta, on the last Tuesday in April and on the first Tuesday in August; within and for the county of Somerset, at Norridgewock, on the second Tuesday in March, and on the second Tuesday in September; within and for the county of Lincoln, at Wiscasset, on the Thursday succeeding the fourth Monday in April; at Warren, on the Thursday succeeding the second Monday in January; at Topsham, on the Thursday, succeeding the fourth Monday in August; within and for the county of Hancock, at Castine, on the Thursday next succeeding the third Tuesday of March, and on the Thursday next succeeding the third Tuesday of November; within and for the county of Washington, at Machias, on the first Tuesday in March, and on the first Tuesday in September; within and for the county of Penobscot, at Bangor on the first Tuesday of March, and on the first Tuesday of September. SECT. 3. BE it further enacted, That all matters, taken for, returnable to, or are now pending in the several Courts of Session, shall be returnable to, have day, be proceeded in, and determined by the respective Courts of Sessions, within and for the same counties, at the term thereof next to be holden as by this Act provided. And the Clerks of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, within the several counties shall be Clerks of the Court of Sessions. SECT. 4. BE it further enacted, That the Justices of the Court of Sessions, shall receive for their services three dollars for each day, during their attendance in said Court, and one dollar for every ten miles travel, to be paid out of the county Treasury. SECT. 5. BE it further enacted, That at whenever it shall happen, that there is not a majority of said Justices, assembled at the time for holding the said Court, any one or more of said Justices, shall have power to adjourn said Court, until a quorum shall be assembled. SECT. 6. Be it jU1\u27thel\u27 enacted, That all acts heretofore made respecting Courts of Sessions, and which are inconsistent with the provisions of this act, be, and the same are hereby repealed. [This Act passed June 27, 1820.]https://digitalmaine.com/arc_act-resolves-1820/1026/thumbnail.jp