Bigelow v. Stearns

19 Johns. 39

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: May 15, 1821
• Status: Published

Opinion

Spencer, Ch.

Justice, delivered the opinion of the Court. I had no doubt upon the trial that the conviction given in evidence by the defendant was a complete protection to him, as to every thing set forth in it, unless it was shown that the defendant had either exceeded his jurisdiction, or had not jurisdiction of the person of the plaintiff. I consider it perfectly well settled, that to justify an inferior magistrate in committing a person, he must have jurisdiction not only of the subject matter of the complaint, but also of the process and the person of the defendant. This point was fully and ably discussed in Borden v. Fitch; (5 Johns. Rep. 121.) and it was decided, that a judgment of divorce rendered by the Supreme Court of Vermont was void, because it had not jurisdiction of the person of. the defendant. The authorities are numerous to this point. (5 Johns. Rep. 41. 8 Johns. Rep. 90. 197. Kirby’s Rep. 119. 1 Dallas, 261. 1 Day’s Con. Rep. 40, 45. 2 Wils, 386. 2 Str. 993.) If a Court of limited jurisdiction issues a process which is illegal, and not merely erroneous ; or, if a Court, whether of limitejurisdiction or not, undertakes to hold cognizance of a cause, without having gained jurisdiction of the person, by having him before them, in the manner required by law, the proceedings are void: and in the case of a limited or special jurisdiction, the magistrate attempting to inforce a proceeding founded on any judgment, sentence, or conviction, in such a case, becomes a trespasser. The case of Mather v. Hood, (8 Johns. Rep. 45.) decides that a record of conviction of a Justice, under the act to prevent forcible entries and detainers, is not traversable; and if it appears, that the Justice had jurisdiction and proceeded regularly, it is conclusive, and a bar to a suit against him for any thing adjudged and within his jurisdiction. But it was not decided in that case, nor is there any case that sanctions the doctrine, that by force of a conviction before a magistrate, the party affected by it, may not show, even in a collateral action, where the conviction is set up as a defence, or comes in question, that the magistrate had not jurisdiction of the person against whom the conviction operates. Take the case of a person convicted by a Justice of the Peace, who never had been summoned, and who never appeared before him; would it admit of a doubt that this fact might be shown, and if proved, that the whole proceeding would be coram non judice and void ? The fourth section of the act under which this conviction took place, (2 N. R. L. 194, 195.) after specifying the offences of violating the sabbath, and interrupting and disturbing any assembly of people met for religious worship, proceeds to denounce the penalty, and provides, in case such offender be legally convicted, that he shall immediately pay the sum so forfeited, which may be a sum not exceeding twenty-five dollars; and if he does not immediately pay the amount, with the charges of conviction, or give security, to the satisfaction of the Justice, for the payment thereof, within twenty days thereafter, then the Justice may, by war' rant, under his hand and seal, commit the offender to the common gaol of the county for a term not exceeding thirty days. The ninth section provides, that every Justice shall, upon information given upon the oath of any person, cause every offender against the act to appear before him, and upon such information being proved, shall convict suchoffender in such manner as in and by the act is prescribed. tenth section gives the form of conviction, and prohibits the removal into the Supreme Court, by certiorari, of anJ adjudication or conviction by virtue of the act. The importance and value of the principle, that the Justice has not jurisdiction, unless the person convicted shall be legally before him, becomes more apparent, when we perceive that the aggrieved party is deprived of every method of protecting himself, but by action against the Justice.

Was the plaintiff legally before the Justice ? I consider the process issued by the defendant as unexceptionable ; it had no seal, and there is nothing in the act requiring it. The constable returned upon it, that he had served it by reading. It appeared in evidence that the plaintiff was never before the Justice.; that the process was served by reading it to the plaintiff in the presence and hearing of his fa- ’ ther, who now prosecutes as guardian ad litem to his son. The father requested the constable to delay the return of the process, until the next day at 10 o’clock, as he wished to take counsel, and that he would attend before the Justice the next day for his son. This conversation took place when the officer served the process, and in the plaintiff’s hearing and presence, and he did not object to the arrangement. The father appeared with counsel before the Justice, and objected to the process and the manner of its being served, and insisted that the plaintiff ought to have been brought personally into Court; these objections were overruled, and then Gale Bigelow withdrew with his counsel.

It is á settled principle, that whenever a statute confers a new power upon Justices of the Peace, they must proceed in the mode prescribed by the statute. Various British statutes confer power on Justices of the Peace, to inflict penalties for offences, on conviction, without requiring that the party should be summoned or compelled to appear. In 4th Bl. Com. 382., it is said, the Courts of common law have thrown intone check upon them, (summary convictions,) by making it necessary to summon the party accused before he is condemned; and it is now held to be an indispensable requisite. (2 Ld. Raym. 1405. 1 Salk. 181.) It is evident, that the summoning of the accused, was not specifically required; Yet this has been considered a principle so necessary to the impartial administration of justice, that it cannot be dispensed with. The statute authorizing the proceedings against the plaintiff, requires of the Justice to cause every offender against the statute to be brought before him. This, I consider essential to his jurisdiction ; first, because, the statute is mandatory upon the Justice that it shall be done, and it is the mode pointed out in which we shall execute the summary powers confided to him; and, secondly, because, from. the nature of the case, the offender must be present; the party convicted has an option given him of paying the forfeiture, or giving security for the payment in twenty days - in default of complying with either alternative, the Justice is bound to commit him, for a period not exceeding thirty days. It is essential that the offender should have an opportunity of electing to comply with one of the alternatives offered to him, by being present and informed of the forfeiture adjudged. It is no answer to say, that being summoned, he might appear. It was the duty of the Justice to cause him to be brought before him. Neither is it an answer, that being an infant, he appeared by his father. It is not a suit in which there can be a guardian ad litem. Under the twenty-five dollar act, in a proceeding instituted by warrant, had the same facts occurred, the proceedings would have been erroneous.

Judgment for the plaintiff