Court Opinion

ID: 9810424
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 21:49:50.149051+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:39:55.176799
License: Public Domain

Adams, J.,
concurring: As a rule an injunction will not be issued to restrain the enforcement of a town- ordinance alleged to be invalid, because its invalidity may be pleaded as a defense. Thompson v. Lumberton, 182 N. C., 262. But a court of equity may restrain a criminal prosecution for an alleged breach of an unconstitutional ordinance when the prevention of such prosecution is essential to safeguard the rights of property. Tyson & Bro. v. Banton, 273 U. S., 418, 71 L. Ed., 718; Advertising Co. v. Asheville, 189 N. C., 737. If an ordinance which is valid is declared by a justice of the peace to be unconstitutional and the defendant is discharged the State has no right of appeal and the real question cannot be determined by an appellate court in the criminal proceeding. A question would then arise whether the owner of property which would be injuriously affected by such abolition of the ordinance could resort to a court of equity to enjoin the defendant from doing that which the valid ordinance expressly .forbids. The present action was brought by the city, and not by an owner of property who claims that its value will be impaired by the construction of the building forbidden by the ordinance. I understand that the law with respect to the proposed question is not determined on the present record, and I therefore concur in the opinion of the Court.