Case ID: ala_38/html/0237-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      R. W. WALKER, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Ex Parte COBURN.
    [APPLICATION FOR MANDAMUS TO PROBATE JUDGE.]
    1. Jurisdiction of prpbate judge to revise proceedings of magistrate under peaee-warrani. — A probate judge bas no jurisdiction, on habeas corpus or otherwise, to 'revise an order made by a justice of tlie peace, requiring a party to give security to keep the peace, and directing his imprisonment until such security is given : the only modeqf revising the action of the justice, is by an appeal to the circuit court .under section 3351 of the Code.
    Application by Thomas S. and.Edward Coburn for & mandamus to the probate judge of Downdes county, requiring him to allow them to. adduce evidence before him, on habeas corpus, showing.the illegality of their confinement by the sheriff of said. county, as hereinafter stated. The exhibits to the petitioners’ application showed, that they were arrested, on the 17th December, 1861, under the warrant of a justice of the peace, issued on the complaint of one Jacob Bruce,, charging them ..with a breacbof the peace and other apprehended violence-; that .on.-the trial before the justice, he made an order, requiring them to give security to keep the peace, and .directing .-their confinement by the sheriff until such security was given; that they then applied to -the probate judge for the writ of habeas corpus, which was granted; that on the hearing of the habeas corpus, the sheriff returned the proceedings under which he held .the petitioners in confinement; that the probate judge thereupon refused.to examine into the validity of the proceedings had before the justice, and would not allow the petitioners to produce evidence showing their innocence of the charge imputed to them; and that they reserved exceptions to the-.several .rulings, and decision of the probate judge.
    
      W. E. Witcher, for the motion.
   R. W. WALKER, J.

Where, on complaint to a justice of the peace, an order is made by him, requiring an individual to give security to keep the peace, and directing his imprisonment until such security is given; the probate judge has no authority, üpon habeas corpus or otherwise, to re-examine the case trptm- the facts, and discharge the prisoner. The only mode of revising-the decision of the justice upon the facts, is".by an appeal’, undei section 3351 of the Code, to the circuit court, which- can-try the case de novo, and either confirm the order of the magistrate? or' discharge the applicant. — Code, § 3354 ; Tomlin v. State, 19 Ala. 9. The return of the sheriff showed, that the .petitioners were¡held in custody under an order of a justice-of the peacé,*T'equiring'1hem do'-give security to keep the peace?' audits' this order "was not- open to-objection on any of the grounds-specified in section 3744 of the Code, the probate judge'-had no authority to inquire into its legality or justice. — Code, § 3741; Ex parte Burnett, 30 Ala. 461. Consequently; the probate judge was right, in- refusing to hear -evidence- touching the guilt or innocence of the petitioners, and properly dismissed'the petition.

Motion refused.

Stone, J., not sitting;