the United States, and the Circuit Court judges do not go on a circuit. The Federal circuit and district judges are appointed by the President, on the recommendation of the Supreme Court, for six years. There are also Federal district courts which have about the same jurisdiction that similar tribunals have in our country. This court has original jurisdiction in the matter of Amparo. This writ is invoked when any right conferred by the Constitution is vio lated. In some features it resembles our writ of habeas corpus. But it is more com prehensive. For instance, if a man finds that his property, or any other constitutional rights, are interfered with by cither civil or military authority, or even by a judicial sentence of a Federal or State court, he applies to the proper district court, which has the authority to suspend at once the act complained of, and decide the case; the decision in such case must go for revis ion to the Federal Supreme Court. The State courts are: justices and correctional courts, civil courts of first instance and superior and supreme courts. Although the procedure is entirely different from that of our country, the jurisdiction of the above courts is similar to that of the justices of the peace, superior and Supreme or appellate Courts of our different States. The superior tribunals are composed usually of four departments, which appor tion cases according to their nature as pro vided by case of civil procedure. Most of the States of Mexico have adopted codes of civil procedure, penal code and commercial code. There is no jury in civil cases. Criminal practice is entirely different from that of the United States. It differs from the very first step. A person is arrested and placed in close confinement without being able to communicate with any one, not even counsel. The judge investigates ex parte the case for a preliminary trial, and within seventy-two hours, if he finds no
reasonable ground to hold the accused, he discharges him. However if the magistrate is of the opinion that there is cause to in vestigate the case, he holds the defendant for further examination. All the evidence in the preliminary examination is taken down in writing. There has been severe criticism from those accustomed to our sys tem of judicial procedure that this prelimi nary examination is in secret and that the defendant is neither confronted with his accusers nor has the benefit of counsel. In fact, however, having no grand jury, this is simply in analogy to our grand jury, whose proceedings are conducted in the same manner. The trial jury is composed of nine. A verdict rendered by five acquits or convicts, with a right in the Court to order a new trial. A verdict by eight acquits or convicts absolutely and the Court has no power to order a new trial. Six peremp tory challenges are allowed the defendant. Two additional jurors are sworn, sit with the jury and hear the evidence, but have no vote unless one of the nine is taken sick or is excused, when one of these takes his place. This is to prevent mistrials. No bail is allowed until the judge examines the case, and if the crime is punishable by five years' imprisonment, generally bail is not allowed. Their prisons might be better, but usually are as good as those in most of our States. The Mexican penal legislation is far more effective than the American, in the ascer tainment of the guilty one, and the punish ment of the crime. It has many features of the French and Spanish system of criminal jurisprudence. It is certainly more speedy. Lynch law is unknown, because it is un necessary to resort to it, as in the United States, to protect society from murderers. On this point the costly and expensive court system of this country breaks down. The numerous peremptory challenges and the numerous other technical advantages given a prisoner on trial for his life in the
