Case Name: STATE v. MOORE et al.
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1917-01-15
Citations: 140 La. 722
Docket Number: No. 22324
Parties: STATE v. MOORE et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 140
Pages: 721–723

Head Matter:
(73 South. 842)
No. 22324.
STATE v. MOORE et al.
(Jan. 15, 1917.)
(Syllabus by the Oourt.)
Criminal Law <&wkey;1020 — Appellate Jurisdiction — Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction, in criminal cases, in which a fine exceeding $300, or imprisonment exceeding six months, has been actually imposed, or in which the pun ishment of death or imprisonment at hard labor may be inflicted.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 2578-2580; Dec. Dig. &wkey;> 1020.]
Appeal from Thirteenth Judicial District Court, Parish of Rapides; James Andrews, Judge.
On motion to dismiss appeal. Appeal dismissed.
See, also, ante, p. 281, 72 South. 965.
A. V. Coco, Atty. Gen., John R. Hunter, Dist. Atty., of Alexandria, Vernon A. Coco, of Marksville (Cecil L. Whitehead, of Alexandria, of counsel), for the State. Benjamin T. Waldo and Lemle & Lemle, all of New Orleans, for appellees.

Opinion:
On Motion to Dismiss Appeal.
SOMMERVILLE, J.
The state appeals from a judgment sustaining pleas to the jurisdiction of the district court in seven cases against the defendants which were consolidated for the purpose of trial, and wherein the defendants were charged with criminal libel.
The penalty prescribed by law for such an offense is a fine of not more than $1,000, or imprisonment for two years. R. S. § 804 and 982.
Article 85 of the Constitution provides that the Supreme Court, in criminal eases, shall have jurisdiction on questions of law alone, whenever the punishment of death or imprisonment at hard labor may be inflicted, or a fine exceeding $300, or imprisonment exceeding six months, is actually imposed. In this case death or imprisonment at hard labor would not have resulted from conviction; and, as no trial has yet taken place, no fine or sentence of imprisonment exceeding six months has been actually imposed. It therefore follows that the court is without jurisdiction. State v. Smith, 39 La. Ann. 231, 1 South. 452; State v. Smith, 39 La. Ann. 320, 1 South. 867; State v. Blanchard, 45 La. Ann. 939, 12 South. 933; State v. Kramer, 127 La. 1033, 54 South. 341.
Appeal dismissed.