Any statute, which became effective prior to September fifteenth, one thousand nine hundred and forty-eight and still remains in effect and which contains any provision governing or relating to any court or officer, existing prior to said date in accordance with the Constitution of 1844, hereinafter designated, shall be given effect, on and after said date, as governing or relating to the court or officer established in accordance with the Constitution of 1947, hereinafter designated, as though the reference therein to the former court or officer were made to such latter court or officer, except as otherwise provided in this act or in the Rules made and promulgated by the Supreme Court and in cases in which the provisions of the Constitution of 1947 may be to the contrary, and any power conferred upon, jurisdiction vested in, duty provided to be performed by, limitation prescribed upon the action of, or provision governing or relating to, any such former court or officer shall, except as aforesaid, be conferred upon, be vested in, be performed by, be applicable to or govern or relate to such latter court or officer as fully as though such latter court or officer were specifically referred to therein:
(a) Where the reference is to the Court of Errors and Appeals, it shall be given effect as though it were to the Supreme Court established by the Constitution of 1947, except where a right of review by the Court of Errors and Appeals, by appeal or otherwise, is provided for in such statute;(b) Where the reference is to the former Supreme Court, in respect to its appellate jurisdiction, it shall be given effect as though it were to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court, and otherwise as though it were to the Law Division of the Superior Court or a Judge of the Superior Court assigned to the Law Division thereof;(c) Where the reference is to the Court of Chancery, it shall be given effect as though it were to the Chancery Division of the Superior Court or a Judge of the Superior Court assigned to the Chancery Division thereof;(d) Where the reference is to the Prerogative Court, in respect to its appellate jurisdiction, it shall be given effect as though it were to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court, and otherwise as though it were to the Chancery Division of the Superior Court or a Judge of the Superior Court assigned to the Chancery Division thereof;(e) Where the reference is to the Circuit Court, it shall be given effect as though it were to the Law Division of the Superior Court or a judge of the Superior Court assigned to the Law Division thereof;(f) Where the reference is to the Chancellor as acting in, or constituting, the Court of Chancery, it shall be given effect as though it were to the Chancery Division of the Superior Court or to a Judge of the Superior Court assigned to the Chancery Division thereof, and otherwise as though it were to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court established by the Constitution of 1947;(g) Where the reference is to the Ordinary, as such, or as the Surrogate General or Judge of the Prerogative Court, or in terms of similar import, as acting in, or as, the Prerogative Court, in respect to his or its appellate jurisdiction, it shall be given effect as though it were to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court, and otherwise as though it were to the Chancery Division of the Superior Court or to any Judge of the Superior Court assigned to the Chancery Division thereof;(h) Where the reference is to the Chief Justice of the former Supreme Court, it shall be given the same effect as is herein provided where such reference is to a former "Supreme Court Justice;"(i) Where the reference is to a former Supreme Court Justice, as the Supreme Court Justice presiding in a circuit, or in such terms as indicate that the reference is to such former officer while performing his duty of presiding in or over the circuit of the former Supreme Court of a county, it shall be given effect as though it were to such Judge of the Superior Court as is assigned in a similar capacity in the county if any such Judge is so assigned, otherwise as though it were to a Judge of the Superior Court assigned to the Law Division thereof in the county;(j) Where the reference is to a Vice Chancellor, it shall be given effect as though it were to a Judge of the Superior Court assigned to the Chancery Division thereof;(k) Where the reference is to a Vice Ordinary, in respect to the exercise of any appellate jurisdiction or action in an appellate capacity, it shall be given effect as though it were to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court, and otherwise as though it were to a Judge of the Superior Court assigned to the Chancery Division thereof;(l) Where the reference is to a Circuit Court Judge, it shall be given effect as though it were to the Judge of the Superior Court assigned to the Law Division thereof;(m) Where the reference is to the Court of Oyer and Terminer, the Court of Quarter Sessions, the Court of Special Sessions, or the Court of Common Pleas, of any county, or to any Judge of any such court, it shall be given effect as though it were to the Law Division of the County Court of such county or to a Judge thereof;(n) Where the reference is to a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas sitting in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, in the Court of Quarter Sessions, in the Court of Special Sessions, or in the Court of Common Pleas, of any county, or to a Judge of the Court of Quarter Sessions, of the Court of Special Sessions, or of the Court of Common Pleas, of any county, it shall be given effect as though it were to a Judge of the County Court of such county;(o) Where the reference is to the Orphans' Court, or any Judge of the Orphans' Court, of any county, it shall be given effect as though it were to the Probate Division of the County Court of said county, or to a Judge of the County Court of said county;(p) Where the reference is to the Clerk of the Court of Errors and Appeals, it shall be given effect as though it were to the Clerk of the new Supreme Court;(q) Where the reference is to the Clerk of the Supreme Court, the Clerk in Chancery or the Clerk of the Court of Chancery, however described, or to the Register of the Prerogative Court, it shall be given effect as though it were to the Clerk of the Superior Court;(r) Where the reference is to the Clerk of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, the Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions, the Clerk of the Court of Special Sessions, the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, or the Clerk of the Circuit Court, of any county, it shall be given effect as though it were to the county clerk of the county;(s) Where the reference is to the Clerk of the Orphans' Court of any county, it shall be given effect as though it were to the Surrogate of the county, acting as the Clerk of the Probate Division of the County Court of the county;(t) Where the reference is to an Advisory Master in Chancery, it shall be given effect as though it were to the same or to a similar officer of the Superior Court or such officer as shall be authorized to perform the same or similar duties in the Superior Court as were performed by such officer in the Court of Chancery;(u) Where the reference is to a Master in Chancery or a Master of the Court of Chancery or to a Solicitor in Chancery, it shall be given effect as though it were to an Attorney at Law. In the event that any such statute is proceeded under pursuant to law or the Rules of the Supreme Court, in any action, cause or proceeding, on or after September fifteenth, one thousand nine hundred and forty-eight, by complaint, answer, crossclaim or counterclaim, or in any other manner, in any division or part of any court other than the division hereinbefore named, such statute shall be given effect as though the appropriate division or part of said court were named herein.
L.1948, c.375, p.1540, s.1; eff. 9/15/1948.