5 Mich. 66 | Mich. | 1858
This is a motion to dismiss the case reserved, for want •of jurisdiction. The objection made is that this Court has no jurisdiction to hear questions reserved in equity causes.
The statute under which this Court obtains its jurisdiction, is found 'in 2 Compiled Laws, page 996, Sec. 8422, and provides that, “If in any civil cause or criminal prosecution in any Circuit Court, any question of law shall arise, which, in the opinion of the Circuit Judge, should be reserved for the opinion of the Supreme Court, he shall report the case, so far as may be necessary to present such question of law, and’ transmit the same,” &c. This law is in substance the same with the first law on the subject, except that in the present ■law, the term “civil cause” is used in place of the term “civil suit,” which was the phrase of the former law.
The term “civil cause” has no technical meaning, and may embrace any kind of civil controversy. Whether it embraces equity causes here, does not therefore depend on ■any verbal nicety.
The phrase being broad enough to include such cases, •they will be considered as included unless some reason presents itself to remove them from the reach of the statute. Although the consideration of reserved; questions in equity is not altogether convenient or desirable in all cases, yet 'we can not, on that account alone, decline jurisdiction-if
The chief objection urged to the jurisdiction in equity cases is, that it not only brings up facts and testimony upon which many questions may arise, but it leaves it in the power of parties, after the opinion of this Court is certified to the Court below, to bring the Avhole matter up again by appeal, The latter objection, hoAvever, applies equally to points reserved in common law cases, for there is an equal opportunity to bring up the same questions by bill of exceptions on writ of error. We can not, in either case, prevent any jDarty from prosecuting such remedies as the law gives him. When parties bring before us questions which Ave have already decided before in the same controversy, avc can always determine whether we desire more light upon the matters decided.
The other objection is one which is founded upon a misapprehension of what is the true meaning of the statute upon the method of reservation, and Ave avail ourselves of this opportunity to express our views upon the true construction of the law in this respect, and the considerations Avhich AVill govern our action .under it.
In the case of The People vs. Adwards, decided by this Court at the January Term of the present year,
It is held uniformly that if the judges divide upon a question of discretion merely, the case will not be heard. — United States vs. Chicago, 7 How. 185; Davis vs. Braden, 10 Pet. 286; United States vs. Daniel, 6 Wheat. 542; Grant vs. Raymond, 6 Pet. 218; Smith vs. Vaughan, 10 Pet. 366; Packer vs. Nixon, 10 Pet. 408.
The questions certified must be questions of law, not questions of fact, and not questions which involve or imply conclusions or judgment by the judges upon the weight or effect of testimony or facts adduced in the cause. — Dennistoun vs. Stewart, 18 How. 565; Ogilvie vs. Knox Ins. Co. 18 How. 577 ; Adams vs. Jones, 12 Pet. 207 ; Wilson vs. Barnum, 8 How. 258.
If the whole case, although broken into different points, appears to have been certified, it will be dismissed for want of jurisdiction. — Luther vs. Borden, 7 How. 1; Webster vs. Cooper, 10 How. 54; White vs. Turk, 12 Pet. 238; Saunders vs. Gould, 4 Pet. 392; Nesmith vs. Sheldon, 6 How. 41; United States vs. Stone, 14 Pet. 524; Grant vs Raymond, 6 Pet. 218; United States vs. Bailey, 9 Pet. 267; Dennistoun vs. Stewart, 18 How. 565.
It is no objection to the jurisdiction that the questions
The precise questions of law uj>on which the judges differ, must be directly and explicitly presented, and not left to be inferred from the case.— Wolf vs. Usher, 3 Pet. 269; Saddler vs. Hoover, 7 How. 646; United States vs. Briggs, 5 How. 208; Dennistoun vs. Stewart, 18 How. 565 ; Ogilvie vs. Knox Ins. Co. 18 How. 577.
And we refer to the language of Mr. Justice Woodbury in United States vs. Chicago, 7 How. 192, as containing much good sense on the subject. He says: “There has justly, been a leaning in this Court to decline jurisdiction in cases of divisions below, where it is doubtful; because the power vested here in such cases, it is believed", was meant to be much more restricted than is often practiced, and is, in the most favorable view, rather an anomaly. But by considering questions, if certified here, only when real divisions of opinion occur on them, and at one and the same time, no danger', exists of extending this branch of our jurisdiction beyond what Congress intended. On the contrary, it is divisions of opin-. ion pro forma, and from courtesy to counsel, and on a variety of points, and, at times, some not then having actually risen, but being anticipated, which appear to transcend the original design of vesting such a power here.” This case was a, chancery case, where the questions certified.were upon the continuance of a preliminary injunction, and objections were raised touching the jurisdiction, which called for ,the remarks quoted: The jurisdiction was in this case retained as entirely, proper, and the questions were answered. The case at bar; closely resembles it.
We think the statute never intended that questions should, be reserved, unless the judge below has well founded doubts upon them, save when they are new, and of public importance. And we do not think it makes any difference whether they ai'ise at law or in chancery. But questions reserved should be purely legal questions, and should be presented:
Motion to dismiss denied.
Ante, p. 22.