Case Name: Ex Parte Cirino Et Al.
Court: Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
Jurisdiction: Puerto Rico
Decision Date: 1903-04-09
Citations: 3 P.R. 459
Docket Number: No. 7
Parties: Ex Parte Cirino Et Al.
Judges: Messrs. Chief Justice Quiñones, and Associate Justices Hernández, Sulzbacher and MacLeary, concurring.
Reporter: Puerto Rico Reports
Volume: 3
Pages: 459–467

Head Matter:
Ex Parte Cirino Et Al.
Petition for a writ of Habeas Corpus.
No. 7.
Decided April 9, 1903.
Habeas Corpus — Pinal Judgment. — A petition for a writ of habeas corpus can not be granted for the discharge of a prisoner confined by virtue of ■ an order issued upon final judgment by a court of competent criminal jurisdiction.
STATEMENT OP TI-IE CASE.
The petitioners Severo Cirino 'and Canuto Díaz set forth in their petition that on October 19, 1902, they were sen tenced by the Justice of the Peace of “Catedral’’ to imprisonment for a term of ninety days and the payment of a fine of forty-five dollars, for disturbing the peace,, and to imprisonment for a term of thirty days for carrying deadly weapons. That not being satisfied with this judgment and availing themselves of the right allowed them by the law, they took an appeal to the District Court of San Juan, which appeal was allowed by said .Justice in accordance with the law, and an order to that effect was issued by him. On March 9, 1903, after the lapse of five months, the appeal was returned by the District Court and the judgment delivered by the Justice of the Peace ordered to be made final, because the requisites prescribed by Section 48 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in force had not been complied with. That accordingly they were recommitted to prison by the Justice of the Peace to serve the sentence rendered, Avithout being allowed the right to be heard by the higher court, whereby a grievous injury has been done to the defendants, constituting a breach of that regard which is due to public justice. That on the strength of these facts, and believing that their imprisonment is,illegal, they pray that a writ of habeas corpus be issued and after the proper legal proceedings are had that they be discharged from imprisonment.
Mr. Tizol, for petitioners.
Mr. del Toro, Fiscal, for the People.

Opinion:
Opinion of the Court.
This petition having been presented in due form, the same was heard and considered by the court. No reason having been shown for the discharge of the prisoners who are confined by virtue of an order issued upon final judgment delivered by a court 'of competent criminal jurisdiction, the petition for a writ of habeas corpus is refused, and the prisoners ordered to be remanded to the custody- of the warden of the San Juan Jail and the costs of these proceedings imposed upon the said prisoners.
Messrs. Chief Justice Quiñones, and Associate Justices Hernández, Sulzbacher and MacLeary, concurring.
Mr. Justice Figueras, dissenting.