Minutes of the Court of Sessions of San Joaquin County (Calif.) GovRec7
Finding aid prepared by Gail Erwin
San Joaquin County Historical Society & Museum
2020 July 17
Title: Minutes of the Court of Sessions of San Joaquin County (Calif.)
Identifier/Call Number: GovRec7
Contributing Institution:
San Joaquin County Historical Society & Museum
Language of Material:
English
Container: 2
Container: Minute Book "B"
Container: 1
Container: Minute Book "A"
Physical Description:
1.0 Linear feet
2 bound volumes
Date (inclusive): 1850-1855
Abstract: This collection of two handwritten bound volumes holds the earliest records of government and judicial administration in San
Joaquin County, spanning the years 1850-1855.
creator:
San Joaquin County (Calif.).
Collection is open for research by appointment.
No copyright or use restrictions.
2 volumes/1 linear foot
[Volume title and year], Minutes of the Court of Sessions, San Joaquin County, California, GovRec7, San Joaquin County Historical
Society and Museum, Lodi, California
San Joaquin County is one of twenty-seven original counties created by the California Legislature in February 1850. Under
Chapter 86 of the California Statutes of 1850, a three-man Court of Record or “Court of Sessions” was created in each county,
consisting of the County Judge and two justices of the peace who had been elected by their fellow justices from each of the
county’s townships. The County Clerk served as ex officio clerk. The Court of Sessions performed judicial and legislative
functions until 1855, when it was replaced with an elected County Board of Supervisors by an act of the California Legislature.
The first county elections were held April 1, 1850, and among the new government officials were a County Judge and Clerk.
The County Judge was charged with dividing the county into townships within five days after he took office and ordering an
election within thirty days in each township for two Justices of the Peace and one Constable (Chapter 85 of the California
Statutes of 1850).
A three-man County Court of Record was created in each county with the passage of Chapter 86, “An act to organize the Court
of Sessions.” This court consisted of the County Judge and two justices of the peace who had been elected by their fellow
justices from the county’s townships. The County Clerk was designated the ex officio clerk to the Court of Sessions as well
as keeper of its records, and the County Sheriff or his designated deputy attended the scheduled meetings of the Court of
Sessions to maintain the peace.
The Court of Sessions ruled on the more violent crimes occurring in the county, as well as misdemeanors, and had the power
to fine or imprison a convicted offender. Its administrative functions included property jurisdiction, taxation, management
of public works, division of the county in townships and election precincts, and the task of constructing a county courthouse
and jail.
The Court of Sessions performed these functions until 1855, when it was replaced by an act of the California Legislature with
an elected three-man Board of Supervisors (Chapter XLVII [47], Statutes of the Sixth Session). The County Court continued
to adjudicate civil and criminal cases arising out of the lower courts.
The Minutes to the Court of Sessions include two bound volumes of hand-written records, Minute Book “A” dated 1850-1852, and
Minute Book “B” dated 1852-1855. Minute Book “A” contains an added index for both Minute Books “A” and “B.” Some notes by
the Board of Supervisors appear in Minute Book “B” until 1862.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Court of Sessions
San Joaquin County (Calif.)--Court of Sessions
Court of Sessions Minute Book "A", 1850-1852
Court of Sessions Minute Book "B", 1852-1855 1852-1855