Case ID: la_11/html/0515-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Martin, J.,\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

WILLIAMS ET AL. vs. HOLLOWAY.
    Eastern Dist.
    February, 1838.
    APTBAL FROM THE COURT OF TIIE EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT, FOR THE PARISH OF ST. HELENA, THE JUDGE THEREOF PRESIDING.
    The code of practice was adopted in [2] September, 1825. [It was in force throughout the state, the 2d October, 1825.]
    The record of a final judgment will not be received in evidence, when it appears the judgment is not signed by the judge.
    This is an action to enforce a mortgage against a tract of land in the possession of tbe defendant as third possessor. The latter holds tbe premises in virtue of a sheriff’s sale. On tbe trial, the defendant offered in evidence, the record of the proceedings and judgment under which the land was sold, in support of his title. The transcript purported to be the proceedings and final judgment of a suit, between one Wm. Robinson and Samuel Lanier. The plaintiff’s counsel objected to the reading of the record, because it did not contain a copy of the judgment rendered in the case, but is merely a transcript of the judgment docket, kept by the clerk; and because the paper purporting to be tbe judgment, does not contain the signature of the judge ; and contains no reasons or reference to any law on which it is founded. Tbe court overruled the objections, and received tbe transcript in evidence, to which decision a bill of exceptions was taken.
    The jury returned a verdict for the defendant, and from judgment thereon the plaintiff appealed.
    
      Lawson, for the plaintiff.
    The transcript of the judgment in tbe suit of Robinson vs. Lanier, was improperly admitted to be read in evidence. It appears from the certificate of the clerk, to be merely a short note, or entry of tbe final judgment, copied from the judgment docket, and recorded in the book of notarial records. This can neither be evidence of a judgment, nor operate as a judicial mortgage.
    
      2. It is invalid as a judgment, because it contains neither the signature of the judge, nor the reasons on which it is founded. 2 Martin, N. S., 239. 8 Ibid., 237. 6 Ibid., 121. 5 Ibid, 601. ’
    
      Preston, for defendant,
    contended, that when this judgment was rendered, it was not necessary to sign it. The Code cf Practice is relied on, to show that it was no judgment. This judgment was rendered the 27th October, 1827, and the Code of Practice was not finally adopted until the 25th March, 1828, and is not therefore applicable to it. But every one of the articles quoted, regard a judgment rendered as valid though not signed. Code of Practice, 545, 6, 7, 555.
    2. In this casq the clerk certifies, that judgment was rendered in the words and figures following ; and then certifies those words and figures to be a true copy of the judgment. He thus certifies the judgment itself, verbatim et figuratim.
    
    
      T. L. Andrews, for plaintiff,
    in reply, showed by reference to the law, that the document offered in evidence, was no judgment, and consequently the whole question was decided against the defendant. His judgment must, therefore, be reversed. Code of Practice, 545, 6, 7, 555, and Louisiana ■Code, 3314, 3330.
   Martin, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The plaintiff and appellant had placed this case before us bn a bill of exceptions. At the trial, the defendant offered in evidence, a paper purporting to be the record of the final judgment rendered in the case of Robinson vs. Lanier. The plaintiff objected to its going to the jury, on the grounds that it was not a copy of the judgment, but merely a transcript of the judgment docket, and the judgment does not appear to have been signed by the judge, and contains not the reasons on which it was rendered, nor a reference to any law. The objection was overruled, and the plaintiff took his bill of exceptions. His counsel urges that the District Court erred, because the document recorded is only the memorandum of a judgment transcribed from the clerk’s docket; and the judgment does not appear to have been signed by the judge. Code of Practice, 546, 547, 555.

The Code of Practice was adopted on 2d Sept, 1825. It was in force throughout the state the 2d October, 1825

The record of a final judgment will not be received in evidence, when it appears thejudg-mentisnot signed by the judge.

The defendant and appellee has contended, that the Code of Practice, which requires the signature of a judge to a judgment, was not adopted until the 25th of March, 1828, and the judgment had been rendered five months before, to wit: on tbe 27th of October, 1827, and every one of the articles quoted, regard a judgment rendered as a judgment, though not signed.

It appears to us that the District Court erred. The Code of Practice went into operation in September, 18.25. The article 546, requires the judge to sign all definitive judgments ; and this is not dispensed with by any other article of that code.

It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court, be annulled, avoided and reversed, the verdict set aside, and the case remanded for a new trial, with directions to the judge, not to suffer the document objected to by plaintiff’s counsel to be read in evidence; the defendant and appellee paying costs of this appeal.