Court Opinion

ID: 4904940
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-03 05:55:09.250497+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:13:04.734034
License: Public Domain

Winkler, J.
The appellant was prosecuted before a justice of the peace, tried by a jury, and fined $5 and costs for an alleged violation of article 382 of the Penal Code, *309as amended by the act of June 20, 1876. Gen. Laws 1876, p. 24. From the action of the justice an appeal was prosecuted by the accused to the County Court, where the prosecution was dismissed on motion of the county attorney, and a procedendo awarded to the justice, and'an appeal has been taken to this court from the judgment of the County Court. The case is before us on motion of the assistant attorney-general to dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction.
It is contended on behalf of the appellant, in an interesting argument, that, the right of appeal being given by the Constitution, the right cannot be abridged by legislative enactment, and that the following portion of section 3 of the County Court Act of 1876 (Gen. Laws 1876, p. 18) is in violation of the Constitution, and void in so far as it limits the right of appeal to this court :
“In all appeals from Justices’, Mayors’, or Recorders’ Courts there shall be a trial de novo in the County Court; and when the judgment rendered, or fine imposed, or the amount in controversy shall not exceed one hundred dollars, exclusive of interest and costs, such trial shall be final.”
We are of opinion that authority is conferred upon the Legislature, by section 22 of article 5 of the Constitution, to enact the precise provision complained of, and. we have so held in several cases involving the identical question here raised.
For the reason that the amount in controversy in the County Court did not exceed $100, which is the maximum fine which could have been imposed for the offense charged before the justice of the peace, the motion of the assistant attorney-general must prevail, and this appeal must be dismissed.

Appeal dismissed.