- 90 -47. Legislation (1) Native Legislation Important laws were enacted in Atbara in 1912. Let us begin by discussing the law establishing the local courts, which I have already described in general terms. The primary purpose of this law is to relieve the judge in small civil and criminal cases from the burden of dealing with people by establishing a simple judicial system in the rural areas, composed of local notables who serve voluntarily. This is the most important aspect of the new law. Each center shall have at least two of these courts. The judges shall be chosen from among notables whose oath is administered by the Director of Justice. They are selected from lists prepared by the Attorney General, the Director of the Province, and the Chief of the Primary Court. Three members of the court are sufficient to form a quorum, and the District Judge may preside over any of the local courts in his district. The notables must be landowners in the area for at least 25 years, be able to read and write, and have a good reputation and be respected by the people of the center. The jurisdiction of these courts in civil matters is to make final judgments in cases involving movables not exceeding 500 girsh, wages not exceeding 1000 girsh, damage to land or crops, rent for land and premises, agricultural partnerships, and ownership or operation of animals not exceeding 300 girsh. They also have jurisdiction in all other cases that the parties agree to submit to them for final judgment. They also have jurisdiction to judge, with the possibility of appeal to the District Judge, in cases of dispute not exceeding 1000 girsh, and cases related to partnership, agriculture, or ownership of land, or its usufruct, or repossession of real estate, provided that the claim is based on an act that occurred in the preceding month and does not exceed 600 girsh in value. Furthermore, all cases that are not within their jurisdiction must be submitted to them for amicable settlement before being presented to the District Court.