Cantrell v. Golden

120 Tenn. 204

• Court: Tennessee Supreme Court
• Decided: December 15, 1907
• Status: Published

Opinion

Mr. Justice Neil

delivered tbe opinion of the Court.

This is an application for mwncLamus to compel the circuit judge to sign a bill of exceptions, so as to make it state that the petitioner had claimed a jury in the court below. It appears from the petition that a bill of exceptions was presented to the trial judge containing the statement now asked to be inserted, and that he struck it out. It also appears that this, case was appealed from the circuit court of De Kalb county to the court of civil appeals and there tried, and that the case was thence brought into this court by the writ of certiorari, in accordance with the practice laid down in the act establishing the court of civil appeals. No application for mandamus was made in that court.

On the facts stated the application must be denied on two grounds: First. The writ of mandamus being a discretionary writ, it will not be granted in any case where the court can see that it would be useless. The circuit judge having already refused to sign a bill of exceptions containing the matter now sought to be inserted, and no reason being shown as a basis for supposing or believing that he has changed his vieAV about tbe matter, or Ms recollection of wbat happened in the court below, we cannot suppose that he would do otherwise than make a return to the alternative writ, to the effect that no such action took place in the court below. In the face of such return this court would not grant a peremptory writ. Secondly. The application should have been made to the court of civil appeals. After a case passes that court no change can be made in the bill of exceptions. Under the act-establishing the court of civil appeals this court must try a case when brought here by certiorari on the record on which the court of civil appeals acted.

On the grounds stated, we are of opinion there is no merit in the application, and it must be disallowed.