decision of the courts below, upon any matter of law or
legal inference. And the jurisdiction of said Court over "issues of
fact" and "questions of fact" shall be the same exercised by it before
the adoption of the Constitution of one thousand eight hundred and
sixty-eight, and the Court shall have the power to issue any remedial
writs necessary to give it a general supervision and control over the
proceedings of the inferior courts.

[Sidenote: Claims against the State.]

SEC. 9. The Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction to hear
claims against the State, but its decisions shall be merely
recommendatory; no process in the nature of execution shall issue
thereon; they shall be reported to the next session of the General
Assembly for its action.

[Sidenote: Judicial districts for superior courts.]

SEC. 10. The State shall be divided into nine judicial districts, for
each of which a judge shall be chosen; and there shall be held a
Superior Court in each county at least twice in each year, to continue
for such time in each county as may be prescribed by law. But the
General Assembly may reduce or increase the number of districts.

[Sidenote: Residences of judges, rotation in judicial districts, and
special terms.]

SEC. 11. Every judge of the Superior Court shall reside in the district
for which he is elected. The judges shall preside in the courts of the
different districts successively, but no judge shall hold the courts in
the same district oftener than once in four years; but in case of the
protracted illness of the judge assigned to preside in any district, or
of any other unavoidable accident to him, by reason of which he shall be
unable to preside, the Governor may require any judge to hold one or
more specified terms in said district, in lieu of the judge assigned to
hold the courts of the said district.

[Sidenote: Jurisdiction of courts inferior to supreme court.]

SEC. 12. The General Assembly shall have no power to deprive the
Judicial Department of any power or jurisdiction which rightfully
pertains to it as a coordinate department of the government; but the
General Assembly shall allot and distribute that portion of this power
and jurisdiction which does not pertain to the Supreme Court, among
other Courts prescribed in this Constitution or which may be established
by law, in such manner as it may deem best; provide also a proper system
of appeals, and regulate by law, when necessary, the m