The legislature of Alabama may by general or local laws fix, regulate, and change the jurisdiction of any or all inferior courts established in lieu of justices of the peace in Jefferson county, in all civil cases so long as the amount in controversy does not exceed five hundred dollars, except in cases of libel, slander, assault and battery, and ejectment. All acts of the legislature of Alabama, whether general or local providing for such courts or for such enlargement of jurisdiction prior to the adoption of this amendment, and all judgments of such courts rendered pursuant to such acts, are hereby ratified, validated and confirmed.