United States. District Court

The 1848 Act of Congress which established Oregon Territory replaced the existing county circuit courts with U.S. District Courts. The Territory was divided into three judicial districts and each of the three Supreme Court justices was assigned to a district. U.S. District Courts were established in every county in each judicial district and the presiding justice rotated through the courts under his jurisdiction.

Territorial legislation, passed in 1849, gave U.S. District Courts original jurisdiction over all common law and chancery suits where the demand was greater than 100 dollars, all criminal cases, and misdemeanors punishable by penitentiary sentence. U.S. District Courts had appellate jurisdiction from justice courts, probate courts, and county courts. They were also empowered to issue any writs necessary to fulfill these responsibilities.

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