Fisher v. Harber

10 Iowa 293

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: January 13, 1860
• Status: Published

Opinion

StocetoN, J.

The District Court affirmed the judgment of the justice for the reasons, as stated in the bill of exceptions, that the return of the justice was not made to the District Court, five days before the next term after the judgment was rendered by him. See Code, section 2340.

We think this judgment must be reversed. Where the appeal is allowed ten days before a term of the District Court, it is the duty of the justice to make bis return to the office of the clerk of the District Court, at least five days before the term. Eor the failure of the justice to make this return in the time prescribed, the statute affixes no such penalty as that the judgment shall be affirmed. The default of the justice may occur without any want of diligence on the part of the appellant, and he should not be made to suffer for the failure of the justice to discharge his duty. It is alleged by the appellant that the judgment of the justice was affirmed at a special term of the District Court, held in July, 1859, when by law the return of the justice was only required tp be made five days before the next regular term of said court in September following. The record does not show conclusively, to our mind, that the judgment was affirmed at a special term. If it was so affirmed at a special term of the court intervening between the date of the judgment and the next regular term in September, we think such proceeding ivas irregular and the judgment should be reversed for that reason. Eor the error, however, in affirming the judgment of the justice because his .return was not made five days before the term, the judgment is reversed.

Judgment reversed.