Title: Waltman v. Austin
Citation: 142 N.W.2d 517
Docket Number: N/A
State: north-dakota
Issuer: north-dakota Supreme Court
Date: May 11, 1966

142 N.W.2d 517 (1966) Thomas J. WALTMAN, Petitioner, v. W. J. AUSTIN, Judge of the Burleigh County Court With Increased Jurisdiction, Respondent. Cr. 338. Supreme Court of North Dakota. May 11, 1966. *518 Fleck, Smith, Mather, Strutz, Mayer &amp; Stewart, Bismarck, for petitioner. Gerald B. Glaser, Asst. State's Atty., Burleigh County, Bismarck, for respondent. MURRAY, Judge. This is a proceeding on a writ of certiorari to review a sentence imposed by a Judge in the County Court with Increased Jurisdiction after a plea of guilty to a charge of issuing a check without sufficient funds contrary to the provisions of Section 6-08-16, N.D.C.C., as amended by Chapter 110 of the Session Laws of 1961. The above statute provides the penalty to be imposed. It states the defendant "shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten dollars, and not more than one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than thirty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment." The petitioner in this case was sentenced to the state farm for a term of six months, to pay a fine of fifty dollars, and costs were taxed in the amount of fifty dollars. The petitioner moved in the county court with increased jurisdiction to vacate the sentence on the grounds that it is void for the reason that it is in excess of that authorized by law. The motion was denied, whereupon the instant proceeding in certiorari was brought in this court. In accordance with the writ, the pertinent records have been certified to this court. The petitioner is presently confined pursuant to the conviction and sentence. The proceeding being one for certiorari, the scope of review is limited by statute. Section 32-33-01, N.D.C.C., provides: There is no dispute in the facts, and the first question confronting us is whether the court had authority to sentence the petitioner to six months at the state farm for the crime charged. The justification for the six months' sentence imposed is premised on Section 12-51-07, N.D.C.C., as amended. It provides as follows: It is contended this is a general penalty statute that provides an alternative punishment for the violation of any criminal law of this state. This argument is premised on the use of the word "sentence" as distinguished from "penalty" and that it refers to "persons who otherwise would be committed to the county jail or to the penitentiary for violation of any criminal law of this state." We cannot agree with this interpretation. The language of Section 12-51-07, supra, is clear. It provides that the named judges "may commit to the state farm, * * * all male persons who otherwise would be committed to the county jail or to the penitentiary for violation of any criminal law of this state, where the sentence (imposed) is not less than thirty days nor more than one year * * *." This construction is made explicitly clear when we consult Black's Law Dictionary, 4th Ed., where the word "sentence" is defined as follows: See also Volume 38, Words and Phrases, permanent edition, where the word "sentence" has been defined by many courts as the judgment of the court in criminal cases. We find upon examination of our statutes on criminal law that the word "sentence" is used in this sense many times. Section 12-06-04, N.D.C.C., provides that upon a legal conviction a duty devolves upon the court "authorized to pass sentence" to determine and impose the punishment. Section 12-06-07, N.D.C.C., allows discretion to "the court imposing the sentence" to refrain from "imposing sentence" for a definite term but may impose an "indeterminate sentence" and the person "so sentenced," etc. Section 12-06-24 provides that when any person is convicted of two or more crimes "before sentence has been pronounced" the imprisonment "to which he is sentenced" upon the second or subsequent conviction may be made to run consecutively or concurrently with the first. Section 12-06-27 provides that "A sentence of imprisonment in the penitentiary" under certain circumstances suspends a defendant's *520 civil rights. And Section 12-06-30 provides in certain cases prisoners may be employed while on parole after being "convicted of a misdemeanor and sentenced to the county jail." It is clear to us that the term "sentence" as used in the statute in question and in our criminal law refers to the judgment of the court formally pronounced awarding punishment to be inflicted. We hold that Section 12-51-07, as amended, is not a penalty statute. The statute merely provides another institution wherein offenders may be committed to serve the sentence imposed. Having determined that Section 12-51-07, as amended, supra, is not a penalty statute, we must now determine whether the sentence imposed is void, or merely excessive. The crime charged is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than thirty days. Thus, it is a crime for which one may be committed to the state farm in lieu of the county jail, provided the sentence imposed is not less than thirty days, the defendant has not previously been convicted of a sexual offense, has not served a sentence or a portion thereof in a penitentiary upon conviction of a felony, or does not have a history of moral or sexual degeneration. The record before us does not establish any of these disqualifications and we must assume, in view of the fact that he was sentenced to the state farm, they do not exist. The petitioner maintains the entire sentence is void as there is no real, valid portion separable therefrom. This argument is premised on the fact that the defendant was sentenced to a certain number of months, whereas the statute authorizes a permissible penalty in days. He argues the only divisible portion of a six months' sentence is a month, and that months may have anywhere from twenty-eight to thirty-one days. No authority is cited by petitioner in support of this argument and we have found none. We do not believe it has merit. In State v. Ziesemer, N.D., 93 N.W.2d 803, we held where a sentence is imposed in excess of statutory limitations, it is lawful to the extent of the statutory maximum. We said, in the syllabus, Sentence was imposed March 29, 1966, to commence April 12, 1966. Thirty days have not expired from the commencement of the sentence. The trial court had jurisdiction of the person and of the offense. The imposition, by mistake or otherwise, of a sentence in excess of what the law permits does not render the sentence void ab initio because of the excess, but is good insofar as the power of the court extends. Ex parte Moore, 71 N.D. 274, 300 N.W. 37; State v. Ziesemer, supra. See Wharton's Criminal Procedure, Sec. 2239, p. 479; 24 C.J.S. Criminal Law § 1584; 21 Am.Jur.2d, Criminal Law, Sec. 536. To the extent that the sentence of the court purports to impose a sentence in excess of that which is authorized by law, the sentence is void. State v. Ziesemer, supra, see 93 N.W.2d page 806. A troubling aspect in this case is the question of what is meant by "jurisdiction." There is jurisdiction of the person and the offense in this case. However, the South Dakota court has answered this in the case of In re Taber, 13 S.D. 62, 82 N.W. 398, 399, as cited in State ex rel. Engebritson v. Circuit Court for Grant and Day Counties, 69 S.D. 454, *521 11 N.W.2d 659, at p. 661, 150 A.L.R. 739, as follows: In broader terms, to determine whether a sentence in excess of statutory limits constitutes exceeding jurisdiction, we note the following: The Supreme Court of California, although passing upon a civil matter and perhaps in the nature of dictum, has said the following in this regard: We have searched the authorities to find cases wherein it has been held that it does constitute exceeding jurisdiction, for a court to grant an excessive sentence. We have found that, in the State of Arkansas, the Supreme Court has been granted general powers pertaining to such writs, as follows: These powers are granted by Section 22-200 (d) Vol. 3, Arkansas Statutes 1947 Anno. The Arkansas court rendered two decisions, upholding the use of certiorari where the court had given an excessive sentence. These cases are Switzer v. Golden, 224 Ark. 543, 274 S.W.2d 769; Johnson v. State of Arkansas, 225 Ark. 719, 284 S.W.2d 627. *522 The most definitive statement is given at page 628, 284 S.W.2d reading as follows: In both of these cases the defendant was given credit for the time he had already served in figuring his correct sentence. More general statements dealing with the subject of excessive sentence will be found at 21 Am.Jur.2d 517 and 518. We quote also 14 Am.Jur.2d 786, as follows: It is quite correct that we could require this petitioner to wait until he has served his thirty days and then institute proceedings in habeas corpus when his right thereto ripens, as he then clearly would have the right to do and undoubtedly would be successful. And with this we believe the dissenting minority of this court agrees, namely that his right to habeas corpus would then be absolute. However, we deem it would be a gross miscarriage of justice if we were to act in that manner. Petitioner is unjustly and illegally held, as of the time his thirty days expire, and should not be required to serve one minute thereafter. The time consumed in proceeding under the writ of habas corpus after that time would be the time in which he would be unjustly imprisoned in violation of his rights and the statutes and the Constitution. The matter of principle involved herein is so serious and so grave that we so act. We want to emphasize that this is a criminal case and that this particular defendant received an excessive sentence under a specific statute. We have found many civil cases involving certiorari in the state, but these are not directly applicable. The case of Green v. Whipple (N.D.) 89 N.W.2d 881, does deal with a criminal matter, but is not pertinent or in point. A clear distinction must be drawn between a criminal and a civil action in connection with this writ. In a criminal case, a citizen is being deprived of his personal liberty. In a civil case, we are dealing merely with property rights and there are other remedies. Clearly, this petitioner has no speedy and adequate remedy at law, by appeal or otherwise. He pled guilty to the offense and was given an excessive sentence. We also hold that it is quite necessary for us to direct the discharge of petitioner, rather than remanding this down to the court of Burleigh County, because Section 32-33-10, N.D.C.C., provides as follows: *523 Therefore we hold that the sentence of petitioner is modified to the extent that his confinement at the State Farm is reduced from six months to thirty days, and that he should be given credit for the time already served. STRUTZ and ERICKSTAD, JJ., concur. TEIGEN, Chief Justice (dissenting). I dissent to the latter part of the majority opinion holding that certiorari will lie in this case. In all other respects I concur in the majority opinion. It is well-settled in this State that certiorari does not lie unless the inferior court has exceeded its jurisdiction and there is no appeal or other plain, speedy or adequate remedy available to the petitioner or when in the judgment of the court it is deemed necessary to prevent miscarriage of justice. Mazakahomni v. State, 75 N.D. 73-90, 25 N.W.2d 772; State ex rel. Enderlin State Bank v. Rose, 4 N.D. 319, 58 N.W. 514, 26 L.R.A. 593; State ex rel. Clyde v. Lauder, 11 N.D. 136, 90 N.W. 564; Baker v. Lenhart, 50 N.D. 30, 195 N.W. 16; State ex rel. Claver v. Broute, 50 N.D. 753, 197 N.W. 871; State ex rel. Noggle v. Crawford, 24 N.D. 8, 138 N.W. 2; State ex rel. Wehe v. Frazier, 47 N.D. 314, 182 N.W. 545. The laws of this State provide: These statutory provisions, originally enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Dakota, have been continued in force as part of the laws of this State. In some respects these provisions are in a class by themselves. They differ both from the common law and from the statutes of many other states. In fact, the statutes and the decisions in several states differ to such a degree that in 24 C.J.S. Criminal Law § 1629b (1), it is stated: Also, in 14 C.J.S. Certiorari § 6, it says: In this State we have held that in all cases review on certiorari is limited to questions of jurisdiction. Baker v. Lenhart, 50 N.D. 30, 195 N.W. 16; Livingston v. Peterson, 59 N.D. 104, 228 N.W. 816; State ex rel. Johnson v. Clark, 21 N.D. 517, 131 N.W. 715; City of Fargo v. Annexation Review Commission, N.D., 123 N.W.2d 281; Posin v. State Board of Higher Education, N.D., 86 N.W.2d 31; Common School Dist. No. 126 of Cass County v. City of Fargo, 78 N.D. 583, 51 N.W.2d 364; State ex rel. Dreyer v. Brekke, 75 N.D. 468, 28 N.W.2d 598; State ex rel. Olson v. Welford, 65 N.D. 522, 260 N.W. 593. In other words, certiorari will lie only where there is a *524 want or excess of jurisdiction in the proceeding sought to be reviewed. Jurisdiction has been defined as "power and authority to act with respect to any particular subject-matter." State ex rel. Dreyer v. Brekke, supra. In that case we also said that error in judgment does not constitute excessive jurisdiction reviewable on certiorari. "Jurisdiction" is power to hear and determine, and does not depend upon regularity of its exercise nor upon correctness of the decision. Baker v. Lenhart, supra. Christenson v. Grandy, 46 N.D. 418-426, 180 N.W. 18. This rule that want or excess of jurisdiction is the only ground for certiorari prevails in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, the Philippines, South Dakota and Utah. See State ex rel. Dreyer v. Brekke, supra, p. 481, of 75 North Dakota Report, 28 N.W.2d 598. The majority opinion cites from In re Taber, 13 S.D. 62, 82 N.W. 398, and quotes with approval therefrom. The Taber case was an inquiry by habeas corpus and not certiorari, and in such a proceeding in this State habeas corpus would also be an appropriate remedy to inquire into the "authority to render the particular judgment." Section 32-22-01, authorizing habeas corpus as a remedy, provides that a person imprisoned or restrained of his liberty may obtain release from such imprisonment or restraint if it is unlawful. The question in a habeas corpus proceeding does not necessarily go to that of jurisdiction as is required in certiorari. The majority have also quoted at length from 22 C.J.S. Criminal Law § 107. This, however, is a general section under the heading of the nature and scope of jurisdiction. I do not construe this quote to provide that the term "jurisdiction" as applied to criminal court means the power "to declare the punishment for an offense in a regular course of judicial proceeding" within the time limits provided by the law. On the same subject, in 24 C.J.S. Criminal Law § 1559, dealing with termination of jurisdiction, we find the following: and Continuing in 24 C.J.S. Criminal Law § 1584, dealing with excess sentences, it says: The Arkansas cases cited in the majority opinion are distinguishable. The crime charged to which the defendant pleaded was a misdemeanor punishable only by a fine. The court found that the statute did not authorize imposition of a sentence to the penitentiary. However, the trial court in those cases sentenced the defendants to long terms in the penitentiary. The entire sentence was void. The court had no jurisdiction over the offense on which it sentenced, for the reason that it was not alleged in *525 the charge and was not the offense of which the defendants were convicted. In the instant case it is agreed the trial court had jurisdiction of the person and of the offense. The court was also authorized by statute to impose a sentence to the State Farm. The sentence is valid insofar as the power of the court extended, to wit: to sentence to the State Farm for a period of thirty days. State v. Ziesemer, N.D., 93 N.W.2d 803. When that part of the sentence in excess of that which could be lawfully imposed commences the petitioner has a good cause in habeas corpus. He is not without a plain, speedy, and adequate remedy. Where the petitioner has a plain, speedy and adequate remedy available to him when the lawful portion of the sentence has expired, there need be no miscarriage of justice. Further, in view of the majority decision holding that the extent of the power of the trial court to sentence was for a term not exceeding thirty days, the petitioner is placed in a position where he may petition the trial court to modify and correct its sentence or to vacate the excessive portion thereof. There is no reason why it should be necessary to serve any of the excess. As we said in Bishop v. Depositors' Guaranty Fund Commission, 55 N.D. 178-182, 212 N.W. 828, 829: See also Albrecht v. Zimmerly, 23 N.D. 337, 136 N.W. 240; State ex rel. Mayo v. Thursby-Butte Special School District, 45 N.D. 555, 178 N.W. 787; Baker v. Lenhart, supra; State ex rel. Claver v. Broute, supra; State ex rel. Craig v. North Dakota Workmen's Compensation Bureau, 53 N.D. 649, 207 N.W. 555. It is my opinion that the majority in this case have overturned all previous decisions of this state on the subject and have also encroached upon the powers of the Legislature. It is, in my opinion, judicial legislation. The writ should be quashed. KNUDSON, J., concurs.