e during any
considerable portion of his working time, and the districts are
grouped in some fifty circuits, to each of which is assigned by the
Lord Chancellor one judge who holds court in each district of his
circuit approximately once a month. The judge sits almost invariably
without a jury, although unless the amount involved is very small
either party to a suit is privileged to request the employment of a
jury of eight persons. The jurisdiction of the county courts has been
enlarged a number of times, notably by a statute of 1905, but it is
still not as extended as many people believe it should be. In a few
matters, such as certain claims of workingmen for injuries, this
jurisdiction is exclusive, but at most points it is concurrent with
the jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice, and Common Law, equity,
bankruptcy, probate, and admiralty cases may be brought, at the
discretion of the plaintiff, in either tribunal, subject to the
restriction that the county court may not assume jurisdiction when the
value in dispute exceeds a certain amount, commonly L100 in Common Law
cases and L500 in cases of equity. On all points of law appeal lies to
the High Court; but appeals are rare.[244]

[Footnote 243: Prior to 1846 justice in civil cases
could be obtained only at Westminster, or, in any
event, by means of an action instituted at
Westminster and tried on circuit.]

[Footnote 244: A few inferior civil courts of
special character have survived from earlier days,
but they are anomalous and do not call for comment.
It may be added that the judges of the county
courts receive a salary of L1,500.]

*179. The Justices of the Peace.*--The county courts exist for the
adjudication of civil cases exclusively. The corresponding local
tribunals for the administration of criminal justice are the courts of
the justices of the peace, and, in certain towns, other courts to
which the powers of the justices have been transferred. The county is
normally the area of the jurisdiction of the justices, and with a few
exceptions every county has a separate "commission of the peace,"[245]
consisting of all the judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature, all
members of the Privy Council, and such other persons as the crown, (p. 172)
acting through the Lord Chancellor, may de