Former circuit courts abolished.Sec. 27. And be it further enacted, That the circuit courts of the United States, heretofore established, shall cease and be abolished; and that the records and office papers of every kind, belonging to those courts respectively, shall be safely kept by the clerks thereof, who shall continue in all respects to act as heretofore in the business of the said courts, until it shall otherwise be ordered by the courts hereby established.
Certain courts constituted courts of record.Sec. 28. And be it further enacted, That the supreme, circuit and district courts of the United States, shall be, and hereby are, constituted courts of record.
Test, signing and return of writs.Sec. 29. And be it further enacted, That all writs and processes whatsoever, issuing from any of the circuit courts, hereby established, shall, after the first day of April next, bear test of the presiding judge of such court; before which time they shall bear test of the chief justice of the United States; all which said writs and processes shall be signed by the clerks of the courts respectively, from which the same shall issue, and shall be made returnable to the next stated or special session of such court, and all writs and processes which have issued, or which may issue before the first day of April next, returnable to the circuit courts heretofore established, or to any district court acting as a circuit court, shall be returned to the circuit courts hereby established, and shall be there proceeded in, in the same manner as they could, had they been originally returnable to the circuit courts hereby established.
Judges of the supreme and circuit courts may grant writs of habeas corpus.Sec. 30. And be it further enacted, That every justice of the supreme court of the United States, and every judge of any circuit or district court shall be, and hereby is authorized and empowered, to grant writs of habeas corpus, for the purpose of inquiring into the cause of commitment, and thereupon to discharge from confinement, on bail or otherwise: Provided always, that no writ of habeas corpus, to be granted under this act, shall extend to any prisoner or prisoners in gaol, unless such prisoner or prisoners be in custody, under or by colour of the authority of the United States, or be committed for trial before some court of the same; or be necessary to be brought into court to give testimony.
New trials, rehearings and practice.Sec. 31. And be it further enacted, That the several courts of the United States shall be, and hereby are authorized and empowered to grant new trials and rehearings, on motion and cause shown, and to make and establish all necessary rules and regulations, for returning writs, filing pleas, and other proceedings; and for regulating the practice and enforcing the orderly conduct of business, in the said courts respectively: Provided always, that the said rules and regulations be not repugnant to the laws of the United States; and that all the courts of the United States, and each of the justices and judges thereof, shall be, and hereby are, authorizedThe courts or judges empowered to administer oaths generally, &c. and empowered to administer all necessary oaths and affirmations, and to bind to the peace or good behaviour, with surety where necessary, in all cases, arising under the authority of the United States.
Oath of a circuit judge.Sec. 32. And be it further enacted, That every person who shall be appointed a judge of any circuit court, hereby established, shall, before he shall begin to exercise the duties of his said office, take the following oath of affirmation; that is to say: “I, A. B. do solemnly swear” (or affirm) “that I will administer justice without respect to persons; and will do equal right to all persons; and will, in all things, faithfully and impartially discharge and perform, all the duties incumbent on me as a judge of according to the best of my abilities and understanding, and to the constitution and laws of the United States.”
Appeals from the district courts, to the circuit courts, and from thence to the supreme court.Sec. 33. And be it further enacted, That from all final judgments or decrees, in any of the district courts of the United States, an appeal, where the matter in dispute, exclusive of costs, shall exceed the sum or
