SEC. 5. The judges of the supreme court shall, How classified. immediately after the election under this constitu

tion, be classified by lot, so that one shall hold his office for the term of two years, one for the term of four years, and one for the term of six years.

SEC. 6. The judge of the supreme court having Chief justice. the shortest term to serve, not holding his office by appointment or election to fill a vacancy, shall be the chief justice, and as such shall preside at all terms of the supreme court; and in case of his absence, the judge having in like manner the next shortest term to serve shall preside in his stead.

ble to be judge.

supreme court;

ports.

SEC. 7. No person shall be eligible to the office Who not eligi of judge of the supreme court unless he shall be at least thirty years of age, and a citizen of the United States; nor unless he shall have resided in this state at least three years next preceding his election. SEC. 8. There shall be appointed by the supreme Reporter of court a reporter, who shall also act as clerk of the copyright of re supreme court, and librarian of the law and miscellaneous library of the state, whose term of office shall be four years, unless sooner removed by the court, whose salary shall be fixed by law, not to exceed fifteen hundred dollars per annum. The copyright of the state reports shall forever belong to the state.

district courts.

SEC. 9. The district courts shall have both Jurisdiction of chancery and common law jurisdiction, and such other jurisdiction as the legislature may provide,

and the judges thereof may admit persons charged with felony to a plea of guilty, and pass such sentence as may be prescribed by law.

tricts.

SEC. 10. The state shall be divided into six ju- Judicial disdicial districts, in each of which shall be elected by

May be increased.

the electors thereof, one judge, who shall be judge of the district court therein, and whose term of office shall be four years.

Unless otherwise provided by law, said districts shall be as follows:

First District. The counties of Richardson, Johnson, Pawnee, Gage, Jefferson, Saline, Thayer, Clay, Nuckolls, and Fillmore.

Second District. The counties of Nemaha, Otoe, Cass, and Lancaster.

Third District. The counties of Douglas, Sarpy, Washington, and Burt.

Fourth District. The counties of Saunders, Dodge, Butler, Colfax, Platte, Polk, Merrick, Hamilton, York, Seward, Hall, and Howard.

Fifth District. The counties of Buffalo, Adams, Webster, Franklin, Harlan, Kearney, Phelps, Gosper, Furnas, Hitchcock, Dundy, Chase, Cheyenne, Keith, Lincoln, Dawson, Sherman, Red Willow, Frontier, and the unorganized territory west of said district.

Sixth District. The counties of Cuming, Dakota, Dixon, Cedar, Wayne, Stanton, Madison, Boone, Pierce, Knox, Antelope, Holt, Greeley, Valley, and the unorganized territory west of said district.

SEC. 11. The legislature, whenever two-thirds of the members elected to each house shall concur therein, may, in or after the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty, and not oftener than once in every four years, increase the number of judges of the district courts, and the judicial districts of the state. Such districts shall be formed of compact territory, and bounded by county lines;

CONSTITUTION

OF THE

STATE OF NEBRASKA.

In Force November 1, 1875.

PREAMBLE.

We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for Preamble. our freedom, do ordain and establish the following declaration of rights and frame of government as the constitution of the state of Nebraska:

ARTICLE I.-BILL OF RIGHTS.

people.

SECTION 1. All persons are by nature free and Rights of independent, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights; among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights, and the protection of property, governments are instituted among people, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

hibited.

SEC. 2. There shall be neither slavery nor in- Slavery provoluntary servitude in this state, otherwise than for punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.

SEC. 3. No person shall be deprived of life, lib- Process of law. erty, or property without due process of law.

Religious freedom.

Freedom of

speech and the press.

Trial by jury.

Search and seizure.

SEC. 4. All persons have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences. No person shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship against his consent, and no preference shall be given by law to any religious society, nor shall any interference with the rights of conscience be permitted. No religious test shall be required as a qualification for office, nor shall any person be incompetent to be a witness on account of his religious belief; but nothing herein shall be construed to dispense with oaths and affirmations. Religion, morality, and knowledge, however, being essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the legislature to pass suitable laws to protect every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship, and to encourage schools and the means of instruction.

SEC. 5. Every person may freely speak, write, and publish on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty; and in all trials for libel, both civil and crimnal, the truth, when published with good motives and for justifiable ends, shall be a sufficient defense.

SEC. 6. The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate, but the legislature may authorize trial by a jury of a less number than twelve men, in courts inferior to the district court.

SEC. 7. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated; and no warrant shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be seized.