cally
exclusive jurisdiction within an independent field. The ordinary
courts comprise civil and criminal tribunals, together with certain
special tribunals, such as the _tribunaux de commerce_. At the bottom
stands the court of the justice of the peace (_juge de paix_) of the
canton. This tribunal was created by the first of the Revolutionary
assemblies and it has existed continuously to the present day. The
justice of the peace takes cognizance of disputes where the amount
involved does not exceed 600 francs, and of contraventions of law
punishable by a fine not exceeding fifteen francs or imprisonment not
beyond five days. In civil cases involving more than 300 francs, and
in criminal cases involving imprisonment or a fine exceeding five
francs, appeal lies to a higher tribunal.

*367. The Courts of First Instance.*--Next above the court of the
justice of the peace stands the _tribunal de premiere instance_, or
_tribunal d'arrondissement_. Of such courts there is, with a few
exceptions, one in each arrondissement or district. Each consists of a
president, at least one vice-president, and a variable number of
judges, three of whom form a court with full powers. To each is
attached a _procureur_, or public prosecutor. This tribunal takes
cognizance of all kinds of civil cases. In appeals from the justices
of the peace, actions relating to personal property to the value of
1500 francs, actions relating to land to the value of sixty francs per
year, and all cases of registration, there lies no appeal from its
decisions. The jurisdiction of the court in penal cases extends to all
offenses of the class known as _delits_ (misdemeanors), i.e., offenses
involving penalities which are heavier than those attached to the
contraventions dealt with by the justices of the peace, yet less
serious than those prescribed for crimes. When sitting as a criminal
court, the court of first instance is known as a _tribunal (p. 338)
correctionnel_, or "correctional court." All of its judgments in
criminal cases are subject to appeal.

*368. The Courts of Appeal and of Assize.*--Above the courts of first
instance are twenty-six _cours d'appel_, or courts of appeal, each of
which exercises jurisdiction within a territory comprising from one to
five departments. At the head of each is a president, and each
maintains an elaborate _parquet_, or permanent staff of officials, in
which are included several _procureurs-generaux_ and _avocats