Court Opinion

ID: 6507003
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 18:19:02.771226+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:54:45.792732
License: Public Domain

R. W. WALKER, J.
The principal question for our consideration is as to the jurisdiction of Judge Si'ONE>'to try and decide the case under the circumstances disclosed by the record.
Section 573 of the Code relates to cases in the supreme court, in which two of the judges are disqualified from sitting, and is in the following words : “In any cause or proceeding in said court, when any -two of the judges are disqualified from sitting, the other judge must hear such cause, and, if of the opinion that the judgment should be affirmed, his judgment is of the same force and effect as if it were the judgment of a majority of the court; but, if of opinion that the judgment should be reversed, he must certify the same to the governor, who must associate with him two circuit judges, or two chancellors, for the decision of such cause; and such three judges must hear and determine the same.”
The proceeding authorized by this section is a special statutory proceeding, and the statute must be strictly pursued. The decision of no case can be effected in the special mode here provided, unless two of the judges of the supreme court are disqualified from sitting, and the remaining judge has certified to the governor his opinion that the j udgment should be reversed. When his certificate is given, *145it is made the duty of the governor to associate with the judge giving the same two circuit judges,' or two chancellors, for the decision of the cause. The reason for the issuing of the commission is the fact that there is but one judge of the supreme court qualified to sit, and that he has certified that, in his opinion, 'the judgment should be reversed. When the reason on which the grant of authority is founded ceases, 'it would seeia that the authority itsélf should terminate. Moreover, the two circuit judges-or chancellors are associated with a judge of the supreme court who has given the required certificate. That is "to say, the tribunal created by the statute is to consist of a judge of the supreme'court, aided by two circuit judges, ' or chancellors j and we think it is dear, that if the judge of tlio supreme court goes out of office before the decision of the cause, bis authority over it is, ipso facto, at an fend, and when his authority ceases, that of tbe two circuit judges, or chancellors, associated with him, must also cease. Their authority is purely auxiliary, in aid of the authority of the supreme court judge who is qualified to sit; ah9 When, by his ceasing to be such judge, his authority comes to an end, the merely dependent arid auxiliary authority 'df his associates must also 'cease.
In- the present case, when the order granting a'rehearing was made by the special court, that court directed that' “the eause be placed back on the regulár.docket,” and then adjourned sine die. During the succeeding term, and before any further step was takeli in the cause, Judge Goldtiiwaite, upon whose certificate the special court hail been summoned, resigned bis seat upon the bench, and Judge Stone succeeded Mm. There was -then a judge upon the bench, qualified to sit in the cause, who had never certified that in his opinion the judgment should be reversed. The judge who had given such a certificate having ceased to be a judge, thereby ending his authority over the cause, and having been succeeded by another judge who was qualified to sit, but who bad not given tbe certificate required by law, the reason on which the grant of *146authority to the special judges bad been founded, was destroyed, and the same became inoperative.
This will be rendered more clear, if we suppose that one g# the other judges bad resigned at the same time with Judge Gotjdtixwaíte, and bad been succeeded by a judge, who, like Judge Stone, was qualified to sit in the cause. There would then have been two judges of the supreme court competent to hear and decide the case. Or we may suppose' that both of the other judges bad resigned with Judge GoloI’Hwaxte, and that their successors were qualified to sit'in" the cause. There would then have been a full court 'competent to try the ease. Could it be pretended that, in* either of the cases we have supposed, the authority of the persons named in the governor's commission would still continue, and that a judgment rendered by two judges of the supreme court qualified to-sit, or even by a full court of three judges, would be void for want of jurisdiction? In ¡ principle,.,there can-be no-difference between the cases supposed, and the one before us.
The authority-of the special iudges having been terminated by the resignation of Judge Goldthwaite, the case stood like any other case on the docket. . Judge Stone being the only judge qualified to sit it was his duty to hear the cause; and as he was of the opinion that t-he judgment should be affirmed, his judgment of affirmance “is oí the same force and effect as if it were the judgment oí a majority of the court.” — Code, § 573.
2. There was no error in amending the execution, go as to make it conform to the judgment. .
Judgment affirmed.
A. J. Walker, C. J», not sitting,