SECTION 168

Election of justices of the peace and constables; jurisdiction of justices of the peace; fees of justices of the peace and constables; appeals from justices of the peace; terms of office of justices of the peace and notaries public; appoint

Election of justices of the peace and constables; jurisdiction of justices of the peace; fees of justices of the peace and constables; appeals from justices of the peace; terms of office of justices of the peace and notaries public; appointment of notaries public.

In each precinct not lying within, or partly within, any city or incorporated town of more than fifteen hundred inhabitants, there shall be elected by the qualified electors of such precinct not exceeding two justices of the peace, and one constable. Where one or more precincts lie within, or partly within, a city or incorporated town having more than fifteen hundred inhabitants, the legislature may provide by law for the election of not more than two justices of the peace and one constable, for each of such precincts, or an inferior court for such precinct or precincts, in lieu of all justices of the peace therein. Justices of the peace, and the inferior courts in this section provided for, shall have jurisdiction in all civil cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed one hundred dollars, except in cases of libel, slander, assault and battery, and ejectment. The legislature may provide by law what fees may be charged by justices of the peace and constables, which fees shall be uniform throughout the state. The right of appeal from any judgment of a justice of the peace, or from any inferior court authorized by this section, without the prepayment of costs, and also the term of office of such justices, and of the judges of such inferior courts, and of notaries public, shall be provided for by law. The governor may appoint notaries public without the powers of a justice of the peace, and may, except where otherwise provided by an act of the legislature, appoint not more than one notary public with all of the powers and jurisdiction of a justice of the peace for each precinct in which the election of justices of the peace shall be authorized.