De Armas' Case

8 Mart. 158
Supreme Court of Louisiana·Decided July 15, 1821·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinion

Martin, J.

observed that the rehearing was not prayed for, with the hope of shewing the absence of guilt in the defendant, nor on the ground of the punishment inflicted being excessive.

1. That the case relied on by the counsel, Gray & al. vs Laverty, 4 Martin, 436, in order to establish his first position, (viz. that the judgment of this court is unconstitutional and null; the reference being only to the third Partida) proves the contrary proposition, even in the case of a judgment, which contains no [162]*162reference. "When it (the reference) is not made, those who are to pass on the conduct of the judge, in case he may he prosecuted therefor, may make a strict enquiry; but a court who is required to reverse a judgment, may fairly conclude, even when the reference is obvious, that it was impossible for the judge to make it, on the score of his having been ignorant of it. So, a good judgment, rendered according to the light of the judge's understanding, must be supported.”

The absence of any reference at all does not, therefore, render the judgment null.

The judge may not be ignorant of the law on which he pronounces; he may well recollect the very words of it, and yet not remember the number of the chapter, nor the page of the text; and the volume containing it may be out of his reach. There are certain parts in the state, in which a particular volume, containing the textual law on which a judgment is grounded, may not be within a circle of one hundred miles. Will it not suffice there, that the judge should refer to the particular law, by quoting its very words, or referring to the particular volume which contains it?

[163]*163The framers of the constitution foresaw this, and required the reference to the particular law, as often as it may be possible; but the reasons in all cases.

“The ignorance of a particular law,” said the court, in the case quoted by the counsel, "is possible, in a judge not bred to the profession; it may exist even in those who are; but it cannot be presumed, that a judgment was rendered, without the judge knowing the reasons which determined him.” Id. 464.

In the present case, the law on which the judgment is grounded, is referred to by the volume which contains it, the third Partida, and by its contents, viz. that which forbids the judges to suffer the arrogant and indecorous language of lawyers; and the clerk assures us, he informed the defendant, when he permitted him to take a copy of the judgment, that the court had made enquiry for the volume, and finding that it was not within its reach at the moment, observed the reference might be extended at leisure.

2. That contempt of court is an offence noticed by the Spanish law. Judges are directed so to demean themselves, that their [164]*164authority may not be contemned: que no les nasca en despreciamento. Part. 3, 4, 8; as Lopez expresses it, quod honori suo contemptus non generetur; or according to the Roman law, ne contemni patiatur. ff. 1, 18, 20. “ This,” proceeds the Partida, “ would be, if any one was to argue before them with arrogance, con sobervia. Loco citato.

Lawyers, who demean themselves contemptuously before the court, may be suspended. The laws, cited by the counsel, contradict his assertion, that the causes, for which suspension may be pronounced, are all declared and enumerated in different laws, and no where declared under any general name or appellation.

If the judge, by his sentence against any lawyer, on account of his ill fame, or any other just cause, o por alguna razon derecha, forbid him to practice, he will no longer be permitted to practice. Part. 3, 6, 11.

If the judge forbid any lawyer to practice before him, for any just cause, por alguna razon derecha, during a fixed period: as if the lawyer be tedious, contradictory, or for speaking too much, or for any other like cause, for alguna razon semejante destas, henceforth he may not practice. Part. 3, 6, 12.

[165]*165Lawyers should not interrupt each other, nor should they make use, in their arguments, of any improper or indecent expressions, &c. Those who conduct themselves, as is here ordered, are to be treated with respect, and listened to by the judge; and he may prohibit those from speaking before him, who conduct themselves otherwise: e a los que contra esto feciessen, puede les defender, que no razonen ante el. Part. 3, 6, 7.

3. That the Spanish law, which thus forbids the judge to suffer any contempt of his authority, is a penal one. For it cannot be carried into effect without inflicting some penalty. And a lawyer guilty towards the court, of any contemptuous action, expression or gesture, may be instantly punished, by suspension, at least; and nothing, as is gratuitously asserted, requires the judge to forbear punishing, till the offence be repeated.

4. That no statute of this state has repealed those parts of the law of Spain, which authorise a court to punish the contemptuous behaviour of a lawyer, by suspension.

A statute is said to repeal a former one, when it is contrary thereto in matter. Leges posteriores, priores CONTRARIAS abrogant. It is not [166]*166enough that the latter statute be different in its matter, it must be contrary.

The statute of 33 H. 8, 3, provided, that any examined before the king’s counsel, who confesses treason, shall be tried in the county where the king pleases, and it was held to be repealed by that of 2 Ph. and M., which directs that all trials for treason, shall be according to the common law. 11 Co. 63, a. The reason is apparent; for the latter statute directed that all trials for treason, which include those of persons mentioned in the statute of Hen. 8. should be in the course pointed out by the common law, and this was contrary to the provision of the statute of H. 8.

A statute is also said to repeal a former one, where it enacts a thing inconsistent with it.

So the statute of 1 Ed. 6, 2, which provided, that “ process shall be in the king’s name,” was held to have been repealed by that of 1 and 2 Ph. and M. 2, which provides, that “ all ecclesiastical jurisdiction of bishops, &c. shall be in the same estate as to process, as it was in the time H. 8.” For the two provisions were inconsistent. 12 Co. 8.

But, though the provision of the latter statute be different, if they be neither [167]*167contrary nor inconsistent, the former statute is not repealed.

As if by a statute, an offence be made indictable at the quarter sessions, and a subsequent one makes the same offence indictable at the assizes, the former statute is not repealed; because the provisions of the latter are neither inconsistent, nor contrary with those of the former. Both statutes then may, and ought to stand in force, and the quarter sessions and the assizes shall have concurrent jurisdiction. 1 Bl. 89, 90.

And if the two statutes may be reconciled together, the former shall not be held to be repealed.

So the statute of 16 R.

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De Armas' Case, 8 Mart. 158 (La. 1821).

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