A STUDY IN LEGAL ADMINISTRATION AND RECORDS SHARON ...

whose election Lieutenant-Governor Archibald had overseen. The "Act to
establish a Supreme Court in the Province of Manitoba, and for other purposesu
was assented to May 3, 1871.
There shall be constituted a Court of Justice for the
Province of Manitoba, to be styled "The Supreme
Court," which shall have jurisdiction over al1 matters
of Law and Equity, ail matters of wills and intestacy,
and shall possess such powers and authorities in
relation to matters of Local or Provincial jurisdiction,
as in England are distributed among the Superior
Courts of Law and Equity, and of Probate.
The Supreme Court shall be held by a Judge, to be
styled "The Chief Justice," who shall hold office
during good behaviour. In case of the death, illness,
absence, or inability to act of the Chief Justice, the
Court may be held by any person who shall have
been designated for that purpose by the Govemor-
General in the Commission to the Chief Justice, or in
a separate'wmmission.
The Clerk of the Court shall be styled the
Prothonotary, and shall be appointed by the
Lieutenant-Governor in Council.'*
The act specified that the court meet four times a year. Should that number be
inadequate "The Lieutenant-Govemor [as representative of the Queen through
the Govemor-General] may by Order-in-Council, from time to time direct an extra
session of the Supreme Court .n'9 The province was divided into four judicial
counties (wrresponding to the four main electoral divisions) with a deputy sheriff
for each county and a sheriff for the whole.
conducted:
The act also made provisions for the manner in mich the court was to be