22 UNION COUNTY PAST AND PRESENT
. same power as the circuit court. They have authority to hear
and determine distress warrants, attachments, forcible entry and h0
detainer proceedings, and motions against constables. They may OY
hold examining trials but must notify the county attorney so OU
A he can be present. Su
Administrative and law enforcement offices of the government QF
of Union County have increased in number due to the increase m
of governmental functions in recent years. 35
The justices of the peace of the county, and the county judge
who is presiding officer, made up the membership of the fiscal df
court. A majority of its members constitute a quorum for trans— dl
acting business. It administers the fiscal affairs of the county,
and has full authority and power to appropriate necessary funds SL
for maintenance of the county government, and the public H
services it provides, and to erect and keep in repair necessary hi
county buildings. yl
A sheriff is elected every four years, and is ineligible for S
re—election or to act as a deputy to his successor. His chief official 8,
w duty is to serve the county as a peace oflicer. He may appoint ai
deputies to assist him, or special bailiffs to execute process, but N
is liable on his official bond for the unlawful acts of such persons
in the discharge of official duties. For two years after his term ei
of office, he may collect distrainable fee bills placed in his hands ti
for collection during his term of office. As the process server of p
all courts of record of the county, he must serve and return all
warrants, court orders, writs, process, and notices that may be O
executed lawfully by him against any persons or property in S
the county. t
A constable is elected in each magisterial district every four t
years. His jurisdiction is co—extensive with the county. The duties O
of a constable are such as to make his office comparable to that S
of the sheriff, though limited to the orders of the magistrates p
court to which he is attached.
A jailer is elected every four years, but the General Assembly C
has the power to consolidate the oflice of jailer and sheriff. His I
duties as keeper of the jail are to receive and keep all persons f
lawfully committed. In counties of the population class in which 1
Union County falls, and counties not having a continuous circuit
» court, the jailer is superintendent of the county buildings and · Q
property at the county seat. i