Case Name: Ritchie's Administrator v. Stone
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1821-10
Citations: 2 Cranch 258
Docket Number: 
Parties: Ritchie’s Administrator v. Stone.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 2
Pages: 258–259

Head Matter:
Ritchie’s Administrator v. Stone.
A justice of the peace has no jurisdiction of an action against an administrator.
Appeal from the judgment of a justice of the peace rendered against the appellant in favor of the appellee for $20 and costs.
The appellant was administrator of Abner Ritchie, who was ' administrator of J. W. Goldsborough, and, as such, had the sum of $94 to be distributed among four distributees, of whom Stone was one.
Mr. Key, for the appellant,
contended that a justice of the peace has not jurisdiction in cases against administrators, under the Maryland Act of 1791, c. 68, and stated that a new statute had been lately passed in Maryland, to remedy the defect. The jus tice cannot carry the testamentary system into effect. He cannot ascertain assets and render judgment according to the assets, nor appoint an auditor to ascertain them; nor render judgment for further assets when they shall appear.
Mr. Taney contra,
contended that the justice has power to do all that this court may.

Opinion:
But
the Court,
after taking time "for consideration, reversed the judgment, 29th November, 1821.