Case Name: Lunger v. The State on the relation of Hathaway
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1859-06-15
Citations: 12 Ind. 483
Docket Number: 
Parties: Lunger v. The State on the relation of Hathaway.
Judges: 
Reporter: Indiana Reports
Volume: 12
Pages: 483–484

Head Matter:
Lunger v. The State on the relation of Hathaway.
Wednesday, June 15.
APPEAL from the Fowntain Court of Common Pleas.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
This was a petition by Nimrod Hathaway for the removal of Harris Lunger, as guardian of Huldah Hathaway, an infant. The petition was filed May 9,1855, and the clerk of the Common Pleas on that day issued a notice, directed to the sheriff, commanding him to notify the defendant, Lunger, to appear before the judge of said Court on the 16th of May, in the same year, at the Courthouse in Covington, at one o'clock, P. M., to answer the petition, &c. On that day, it being a day in vacation, and not in term of the Court, the parties appeared before the judge; and before entering upon the trial, the defendant moved to dismiss the petition, on the ground that the judge had no authority to hear and determine the cause in vacation; but his motion was overruled; and the judge, having heard the evidence touching the matters alleged in the petition, adjudged that defendant's letters of guardianship be revoked, &c.
J Ristine, for the appellant.
The general rule certainly is, that a judge has no power to proceed in the trial of a cause unless in term time. There are exceptions to this rule; but they do not apply to the case before us. A judge of the Common Pleas has, no doubt, the power to revoke letters of guardianship, for certain causes pointed out in the statute. 2 R. S. p. 325, § 11. But this he is authorized to do only while sitting as a Court at a regular term. The proceedings in this case having occurred in vacation, and not in term time, must be held inoperative.
The order revoking the letters, &c., is reversed with costs. Cause remanded, &c.