Case Name: The Commonwealth v. Thomas P. Harrison and Others
Court: General Court of Virginia
Jurisdiction: Virginia
Decision Date: 1820-06
Citations: 2 Va. Cas. 202
Docket Number: 
Parties: The Commonwealth v. Thomas P. Harrison and Others.
Judges: 
Reporter: Virginia Reports
Volume: 4
Pages: 201–201

Head Matter:
The Commonwealth v. Thomas P. Harrison and Others.
Writ of Error — Right of Commonwealth to. — No writ of Error lies for the Commonwealth, In a Gaming-, or any other Criminal Case.
The Defendants were presented at Stafford County Court, for unlawful gaming : an Information was filed against them, to which they demurred, and the County Court rendered judgment on the demurrer, in behalf of the Defendants. The Attorney for the Commonwealth applied to a Judge of the General Court, (White,) in vacation, for a Writ of Error, which was awarded by him. At the ensuing Term *of the Superior Court, the Defendants moved the Court to dismiss the Writ of Error, as improvidently issued : and the point of Law arising upon that motion, was adjourned to this Court.
Writ of Error — Right of Commonwealth to. — Por the proposition that in a criminal case the commonwealth is not entitled to a writ of error, the principal case is cited and approved in U. S. v. Sanges. 12 Sup. Ct. Rep. 610, 144 U. S. 310. See also, 6 Va. Law Reg. 245; monographic note on “Appeals.”

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
" The Court is unanimously of opinion, that the Writ of Error improvidently issued on the part of the Commonwealth, because no Writ of Error lies in a Criminal Case for the Commonwealth."