Advisory Opinion upon the Election of Circuit Attorneys

38 Mo. 419

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: October 15, 1866
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION OP THE supreme COURT.

In the matter of the Question propounded by the Governor concerning the Election of Circuit Attorneys.

To his excellency Thomas C. Fletcher,

Governor of Missouri.

Sir:1 — In response to the question as to whether the offices of Circuit Attorneys in the several Circuits of, the State are legally required to be filled by election in November next, we will say that we have examined the matter and have come to the conclusion that they are not to be so filled by election.

In 1864, at the general election the Circuit Attorneys were elected for the period of four years. In accordance with the provisions of an ordinance passed in Convention, March 17, 1865, commonly known as the Vacating Ordinance, the offices of the Circuit Attorneys were declared vacant on the first day of May thereafter, and the Governor was authorized to fill the said offices for the remainder of the term by appointment.

This ordinance is organic in its nature, and cannot be repealed, altered or impaired by mere legislative enactment, without such power was given to the Legislature by the ordinance or by some constitutional provision. We have not been able to find any clause in the Constitution conferring such power.

The office of Circuit Attorney is not a constitutional office, and is ordinarily subject to be controlled and regulated by the Legislature; but here the title to the office is vested in the appointees for a certain prescribed time by an act having the effect of constitutional, law. That title can only be divested or impaired by an ordinance of a Convention or some provision embodied in the Constitution.

Ill article V. of the Constitution specific direction is made in regard to the election of certain officers, and for their appointment in certain contingencies; and by the 26th section of the same article it is declared that the appointment of all officers, not otherwise directed by the Constitution, shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed by law. The office of Circuit Attorney is not one of the offices mentioned in the fifth article of the Constitution, but we are of the opinion that the power given by the 26th section prescribed by law for the appointment of officers not otherwise provided for cannot be extended by implication to the present case. We have therefore arrived at the conclusion that wherever Circuit Attorneys are holding their offices' by virtue of an appointment duly made in pursuance of this ordinance, their terms will not be required to be legally filled till the election in November, 1868.

St. Louis, October 16, 1866.

Dayid Wagner,

Thos. J. C. Eagg.