both original and appellate jurisdiction, civil and criminal. In the
state of New York and a few other states, there is one higher court,
called _court of appeals_, which has appellate power only. Its business
is to review cases from the supreme court.

§12. Suits in the county, circuit, and supreme courts, are commenced by
a _writ_, (in some states a summons or a declaration,) which is served
by the sheriff of the county in which the suit is to be tried. He also
serves warrants and executions issued by these courts. A sheriff is to
these courts what a constable is to a justice's court. His powers and
duties have been elsewhere described. (Chap. XIV., §8.)




Chapter XX.

Chancery or Equity Courts; Probate Courts; Court of Impeachment.



§1. It might be supposed, that in instituting the courts which have been
described, all necessary provision had been made for securing justice to
the citizens. But many cases arise in which justice and equity can not
be obtained in these courts. To afford relief in such cases, a court
has been established called a _court of equity_, or _court of chancery_.
What often renders it impossible to get justice in ordinary courts of
law, is the want of witnesses; but in a court of equity the parties may
themselves be put on oath.