Opinion ID: 1851114
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: did a child custody suit pending in chancery court deprive the county court of jurisdiction to hear the petition for writ of habeas corpus?

Text: On July 9, 1974, petitioner filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the County Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County against respondent seeking custody of the child of the parties. Respondent filed a motion to dismiss the petition for writ of habeas corpus on several grounds, one being that there was pending in Hinds County Chancery Court a child custody suit filed by respondent against petitioner. The motion averred that the chancery court suit was filed and process served prior to the filing of the petition for writ of habeas corpus. Respondent identified a copy of a petition for child custody filed by him July 1, 1974, under the provisions of Mississippi Code Annotated section 93-11-65 (1972), but did not show that process had been issued or served in the chancery court case. This motion raises the issue of priority jurisdiction between courts of concurrent jurisdiction. The principal of priority jurisdiction is that where two suits between the same parties over the same controversy are brought in courts of concurrent jurisdiction, the court which first acquires jurisdiction retains jurisdiction over the whole controversy to the exclusion or abatement of the second suit. Lee v. Lee, 232 So.2d 370, 373 (Miss. 1970); Ladner v. Ladner, 206 So.2d 620, 625 (Miss. 1968); 20 Am.Jur.2d Courts § 128, at 481 (1965); 1 C.J.S. Abatement and Revival § 33, at 58-59 (1936); 21 C.J.S. Courts § 492, at 745 (1940). In this state priority of jurisdiction between courts of concurrent jurisdiction is determined by the date the initial pleading is filed, provided process issues in due course. Euclid-Mississippi v. Western Casualty and Surety Company, Inc., 249 Miss. 547, 559-60, 163 So.2d 676 (1964); Shackelford v. New York Underwriters Insurance Company, 189 Miss. 396, 407-08, 198 So. 31 (1940); Mississippi Code Annotated sections 11-7-33 and 11-7-1 (1972). In order for respondent to prevail on his motion to dismiss it was necessary that he prove, not only that he had filed a suit in chancery court, but also that process had issued in the suit or, if process had not issued, respondent was not at fault. In Euclid-Mississippi, supra, movant introduced the declaration together with proof of process on defendant. This is the proper procedure. Respondent's motion must fail because he did not introduce evidence that process was issued and served in due course or that he was not responsible for the failure to issue and serve the process.