Case Name: JOSÉ PEREZ Y FERNANDEZ, Plaintiff, v. JOSÉ ANTONIO FERNANDEZ Y PEREZ AND RAFAEL DIAZ AGUERRIA, Defendants
Court: United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1902-04-02
Citations: 1 P.R. Fed. 152
Docket Number: 
Parties: JOSÉ PEREZ Y FERNANDEZ, Plaintiff, v. JOSÉ ANTONIO FERNANDEZ Y PEREZ AND RAFAEL DIAZ AGUERRIA, Defendants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Porto Rico Federal Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 152–153

Head Matter:
JOSÉ PEREZ Y FERNANDEZ, Plaintiff, v. JOSÉ ANTONIO FERNANDEZ Y PEREZ AND RAFAEL DIAZ AGUERRIA, Defendants.
Opinion on Motion to Stec Aside Judgment and Quash Execution.
Correction or alteration of judgment after term. — After the expiration of the term at which a judgment is rendered, the court has no power to correct or alter the same, unless the. judgment be void for want of jurisdiction.
April 2, 1902.
Mr. F. H. Dexter, attorney for plaintiff.
Messrs. Horton, & Cornwell, attorneys for defendants.

Opinion:
PIolt, Judge,
gave tbe following charge to tbe jury:
Tbis is a motion, upon notice to tbe other side, to set aside a judgment upon a verdict rendered at tbe December term, 1901, of tbis court at IVIayagu.ez, and to quash the execution thereon. It is made at chambers, and after tbe expiration of the term. Each side has been beard. No ground to quash tbe execution is presented save that tbe judgment should be disregarded or set aside. Not only has tbe term expired, but a writ of error has been sued out, and tbe case is now bound up in an appeal. It is elementary that a court has, after tbe expiration of tbe term, no power over its judgments. This rule is so well established that numerous citation of authority is unnecessary. A judgment of a court, however conclusive, is, during the term at which it is rendered, subject to its order. After the term has ended, however, it is beyond its control. If erroneous, it can be corrected only by an appeal. By the common-law writ of error coram vobis, some material matter that had been overlooked— as the death of a party before trial, or infancy without the appointment of a guardian, the coverture of a party, or clerical error in the process — could be brought before the court. This is, however, now generally done by motion supported by affidavit. But if there be error on the part of the court rendering a judgment, — error in its action, — it cannot be reached by motion after the end of the term. It is then beyond its power. Bronson v. Schulten, 104 U. S. 410, 26 L. ed. 197.
If a judgment be void, as, for want of jurisdiction; or because the court has exceeded its power, as, for instance, if in a suit, upon a note, the debtor has been sent to the penitentiary,-— then it may, subsequent to the term at which it was rendered, afford relief upon motion, and hold it void. But this judgment is not void, and the motion íúust be overruled. Such an order will be entered. '