V, [section]5, gives the legislature the "exclusive authority to provide for the manner of appeals from the
county court to the circuit court." (5) Article V, [section]5(b), provides that the "circuit courts shall have original jurisdiction not vested in the
county courts, and jurisdiction of appeals when provided by general law." (6) The same section also provides that circuit courts shall have the power to issue writs of mandamus, quo warranto, certiorari, prohibition, habeas corpus, and "all writs necessary or proper to complete exercise of their jurisdiction." (7)
The judge was asked if the court system had any opinion about raising the jurisdictional amount for the
county courts. He replied: "We recognize that's strictly within the purview of the Legislature to make that change and we have no position."
COUNCIL leaders have offered to host court hearings following the closure of Morpeth
County Court in a bid to prevent delays.
HM Courts and Tribunals Service said last year that Halifax (Calderdale) Magistrates' and Family Court in Harrison Road and Halifax
County Court and Family Centre in Prescott Street - both grade II listed buildings - were outdated and no longer fit for purpose.
Last year the number of courts in England and Wales was slashed from 530 to 388 - including Rugby Magistrates Court and
County Court, and Stratford
County Court - to save pounds 42million a year.
The average time for delays across Wales and England is 55 weeks, but it is 87 at Rhyl
County Court, according to Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures published for the first time.
After a lengthy public consultation over which courts should go, Ministers have decided only two Welsh courts on the threatened list would survive - Abergavenny Magistrates' Court and the
County Court in Llangefni.
An axe is hanging over Knowsley magistrates' court, in Huyton, Southport magistrates' and
county courts and Runcorn
county court.
Since the building closed in August 2007, crown court cases have been heard in Cardiff,
county courts in Pontypridd and magistrates' court cases were transferred to Aberdare and Pontypridd.
Last month, Senior District Judge John Bailey retired from the bench after more than 22 years sitting in the
county courts.
"Lenders have returned to the
county courts to pursue people who have not repaid, reversing a trend.