unishment for which is loss of life or imprisonment in the
penitentiary. Offenses of a lesser grade are called misdemeanors. The
court has jurisdiction over all civil cases. The _judge_ of the
superior court has the power to issue various writs for the enforcement
of the law, and grant charters to all corporations, except banking,
insurance, railroad, canal, navigation, express, telephone, and
telegraph companies. Cases appealed from justice courts, county
courts, courts of ordinary, and certain city courts lie to the superior
courts.

The _clerk_ of the Superior court is elected by the people for a term
of two years. He has custody of all court papers, records, liens,
deeds, mortgages, and other conveyances, issues executions, subpoenas,
commissions to take interrogatories, and other writs with the authority
of the court. He also has the power to administer oaths.

The _sheriff_ of the county is properly a county officer, but his
duties are closely allied with the superior court. He is elected by
the people for a term of two years. It is his duty to execute all
orders of the court, attend in person or by deputy all its sessions,
keep a record of all sales and executions, publish advertisements of
sales, and conduct sales at the county seat. He levies executions,
serves warrants, and executes all the writs of the judge of the
superior court. The sheriff may appoint deputies to assist him in the
performance of his duties.

The _solicitor-general_ is elected by the people for a term of four
years. He must have been three years a citizen of the State, he must
be twenty-five years of age, and must have practiced law three years.
He is the solicitor of the whole circuit, and is not a county officer.
He advises the grand jury, examines witnesses before that body, and
draws up all indictments and presentments. It is his duty to prosecute
or defend any civil action in his circuit in which the State is
interested, collect moneys arising from fines and forfeited bonds, and
all claims of the State, as ordered by the Comptroller-General. He
represents the State in all criminal actions in the superior court, of
which he is the solicitor, and in the Court of Appeals or the Supreme
Court in cases appealed from his circuit.

The _Court of Appeals_ consists of three judges, elected one every
second year for a term of six years. The _Supreme Court_ consists of a
chief justice and five associate justices. They are elect