County Courts established by the 1849 California State Constitution The first Constitution of California was written by the forty-eight delegates of the 1849 California State Constitutional Convention meeting at Colton Hall in Monterey during the months of September and October 1849. It was signed by the delegates on 13 October 1849 and ratified by the people of California in an election held a month later on 13 November 1849. Under this constitution the judicial department of California was to consist of a Supreme Court, District Courts, County Courts, Justices of the Peace, and such municipal and other inferior courts the legislature may establish as may be deemed necessary.(Index to District Court records of Sonoma County, 1850-1879. Berwyn Hights, Md. : Heritage Books, 2016; pages ix-x)

The County Courts were to have such jurisdiction in cases arising in justices' courts, and in special cases, as prescribed by the Legislature, but no other original civil jurisdiction; county judge to perform duties of surrogate or probate judge. The Court Act of 1851 gave the County Courts jurisdiction for review on appeal judgments rendered in civil actions or proceedings by justices' court or recorders' courts within the county; to have original jurisdiction (1) to enforce mechanics' and other liens, (2) to prevent or abate a nuisance, (3) to prevent waste or give damages therefor, and (4) in cases, of insolvency; may review proceedings of inferior tribunals or offices on certiorari, and issue writs of mandate; court and judge may issue other writs necessary or proper to the complete exercise of constitutional and statutory powers.

By the California State Constitution of 1849 California, the County Judge were to be elected by voters of the county; to hold office for 4 years. (Blume, William Wirt. California courts in perspective. Berkeley, CA. Hastings law journal, vol. 22, issue 1 (1970), pages 127, 144)

County Courts abolished by the 1879 California State Constitution The delegates of the second California State Constitutional Convention of 1878-1879 produced a second California State Constitution that was adopted in Convention at Sacramento on 3 March 1879 and ratified by a vote of the People of the State of California on 7 May 1879. Article XXII, section 3 of this Constitution abolished all courts then existing, including the County Courts, except for the Justices’ and Police Courts, and Article VI, section 1 established a new judicial department composed of a Supreme Court, Superior Courts, Justices of the Peace, and such inferior Courts as the Legislature may establish in any incorporated city or town, or city and county. All records, books, papers, and proceedings from the abolished Courts were to be transferred to the new Courts on 1 January 1880. (Index to District Court records of Sonoma County, 1850-1879, page x)

The first Constitution of California was written by the forty-eight delegates of the 1849 California State Constitutional Convention meeting at Colton Hall in Monterey during the months of September and October 1849. It was signed by the delegates on 13 October 1849 and ratified by the people of California in an election held a month later on 13 November 1849. Under this constitution the judicial department of California was to consist of a Supreme Court, District Courts, County Courts, Justices of the Peace, and such municipal and other inferior courts the legislature may establish as may be deemed necessary.(Index to District Court records of Sonoma County, 1850-1879. Berwyn Hights, Md. : Heritage Books, 2016; pages ix-x)

The County Courts were to have such jurisdiction in cases arising in justices' courts, and in special cases, as prescribed by the Legislature, but no other original civil jurisdiction; county judge to perform duties of surrogate or probate judge. The Court Act of 1851 gave the County Courts jurisdiction for review on appeal judgments rendered in civil actions or proceedings by justices' court or recorders' courts within the county; to have original jurisdiction (1) to enforce mechanics' and other liens, (2) to prevent or abate a nuisance, (3) to prevent waste or give damages therefor, and (4) in cases, of insolvency; may review proceedings of inferior tribunals or offices on certiorari, and issue writs of mandate; court and judge may issue other writs necessary or proper to the complete exercise of constitutional and statutory powers.

By the California State Constitution of 1849 California, the County Judge were to be elected by voters of the county; to hold office for 4 years. (Blume, William Wirt. California courts in perspective. Berkeley, CA. Hastings law journal, vol. 22, issue 1 (1970), pages 127, 144)

The delegates of the second California State Constitutional Convention of 1878-1879 produced a second California State Constitution that was adopted in Convention at Sacramento on 3 March 1879 and ratified by a vote of the People of the State of California on 7 May 1879. Article XXII, section 3 of this Constitution abolished all courts then existing, including the County Courts, except for the Justices’ and Police Courts, and Article VI, section 1 established a new judicial department composed of a Supreme Court, Superior Courts, Justices of the Peace, and such inferior Courts as the Legislature may establish in any incorporated city or town, or city and county. All records, books, papers, and proceedings from the abolished Courts were to be transferred to the new Courts on 1 January 1880. (Index to District Court records of Sonoma County, 1850-1879, page x)