Chase v. Miller

88 Va. 791 | Va. | 1892

Richardson, «T.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The sole question presented for decision is, Did the judge of the circuit court have jurisdiction, in vacation, to make the order requiring the plaintiff in error to give a new bond, or additional security on the existing bond, and in default thereof to dismiss the writ of error ?

"We are clearly of opinion that the judge of the circuit court had no power to. make the order.

“ It is a fundamental principle that courts can exercise judicial functions only at such times and places as are fixed by law, and that the judges of courts can enter no order in vacation except such as are expressly ordered by statute.'5 12 Amer. and Eng. Enc. of Law, p. 14.

This doctrine is aptly illustrated by the decision of this coui’t in Tyson’s Ex’ors v. Glaize & als., 23 Gratt. 799. In that case a bill was filed in January, 1871,. in the circuit court of Clarke county, by the executors of Isaac Tyson, Jr., deceased, against L. A. Glaize and others, to set aside a judgment which had been recovered against said Tyson, and to enjoin the sale of real estate under an attachment issued in said suit. •

The defendants appeared and demurred to the bill, and at the June term of the circuit court the cause came on to be heard, when, by consent of counsel, it was ordered by the court that the cause be submitted to the court to decide on the demurrer, the order of the court to be entered in vacation as of the last day of this term. And afterwards, on the 4tli of August, 187.1, a decree was entered o,f record in vacation by order of the judge of said court. After referring to the order made by consent at the previous term, and bringing on the cause as on the 20th day of July, the court sustained the demurrer, dissolved the injunction theretofore granted the plaintiff, and dismissed' the bill with costs. And thereupon the plaintiffs obtained an apipeal.

This court held, reversing the decree of the circuit court, that “ a circuit court has no authority to make a decree or render a judgment in a cause iu vacation, except such decrees and orders as are authorized by statute, and the consent of the parties cannot give the jurisdiction.” After adverting to the fact that the question was as to the validity of the decree., Anderson, J., in delivering the unanimous opnnion of the court, said: “ The circuit courts, and not the judges thereof, arc invested with jurisdiction to try causes, and pronounce decrees therein; and that the judges have no jurisdiction to perform any judicial functions in vacation, except where the p>ower is expressly conferred, as to grant injunctions and appteals, to hear motions to dissolve injunctions, to direct accounts, and to pierform such other functions as are expressly authorized by law. And no power being conferred by statute, when the decree in this cause wras entered, to pronounce and enter decrees in vacation, and consent of piarties or their counsel not giving jurisdiction, the court is of opinion that the order made in the cause, directing the decree to be made and entered in vacation, was erroneous; and that the supposed final decree made, and entered in pursuance of such order, is not the decree of the court.”

It is true that since the decision of Tyson v. Glaize, the jurisdiction of the judges, in vacation, has been materially enlarged, but in every instance by express statutory provision, and in specifically defined cases. See sections 3426, 3427, 3428, 3483 and 4059,'Code of 1887.

On behalf of the defendant in error, it is insisted that- said section, 3483, confers upon the judge, in vacation, jurisdiction to require a new appeal 'bond, and to dismiss the appeal if such bond be not given. This contention cannot be upheld Avithout. doing Adolence to the plain import of the terms of the section relied upon. That section reads :

“ The judge of a circuit court in Avhich an appeal, Avrit of error, or supersedeas is required- to be docketed, may, in vacation, by consent of parties or on reasonable notice by either .party to the other or his attorney, hear and determine the case and render such judgment therein as might be rendered by the said court in term. The judgment so rendered and all the proceedings shall be certified by the judge to the clerk of the said court, aa4io shall forthAAÜth enter the same in the jiroper order book, and Avhen so entered they shall have the same force and effect as if had or made and entered hv the said court in term.”

It is contended that the language, “ may, in vacation, * * * hear and determine the ease, and render such judgment therein as might be rendered by the court in term,” necessarily confers upon the judge, out of term, all the powers of the court, in, term ; or, at least, such is the effect of the contention as respects the case in hand. There is an obAÚous and broad distinction between the jurisdictional poAA>ers and functions exercised by a circuit court, in term, and those exercised by the judge of that court, in Amcation. The court, in term time, and at all the times and place prescribed by statute, may exercise the powers and functions conferred upon it as a court of original and general jurisdiction; and while many of its poAvers are either expressly conferred or are regulated by statute, there are many others that are essentially incident to its very existence and efficiency, and these are as old as our system of jurisprudence. Hot so, however, with the mere judge, acting-in vacation, who has no authority except that expressly conferred by the statute uhder which he acts, and to the very times of which he is necessarily restricted. This results from the obvious distinction to he taken between the court, acting-in term and according to the established course of courts, and the judge, acting in vacation, in exceptional cases specifically pointed out by statute, and not according to the ordinary course of the court.

This distinction is well illustrated by the case of The Spencer Creek Water Company v. Yalligo, 48 Cal. 70. That was a case involving the validity of certain proceedings had before a county judge in chambers. In delivering the unanimous opinion of the Supreme Court of California, reversing the action of the county judge, Rhodes, X, said: “ The question, tliere- ' fore, arises whether, under the constitution, the legislature has i competent power to create a tribunal and confer upon it jurisdiction in special cases; for it is beyond question that the county judge is not the county court, and although the legislature may authorize the judges of the several courts to perform certain duties, at chambers, in respect to proceedings in a cause, yet some court has jurisdiction of the cause, and the judge, in chambers, whether of the same or another court, acts as a commissioner, or in some other capacity, merely in aid of and subordinate to the court having jurisdiction of the ease.”

It is true that there is not in the present case, as there was in the California case, any constitutional question directly involved, yet that case clearly states the distinction between a court, acting in term, and a judge, acting in vacation. Keeping in view this important distinction, it is too plain to admit of dispute, (1) that said section, 3483, of the Code of 1887, confers no express authority upon a judge, in vacation, to enquire into tlie sufficiency of an existing appeal bond and to require new or additional security; and (2) that such authority cannot be inferred from the language “ hear and determine the ease and render such judgment therein as might be rendered by the said court in term.’-'

■ The .section in question does no more, nor was it intended to do no more, than what its terms clearly import. It simply authorized the judge, in vacation, to hear and determine the case, and render such judgment therein as might be rendered by the court in term. It confers upon the judge, in vacation, no authority to enquire into the sufficiency of the bond given before the clerk in his office, and which the clerk accepted as sufficient. The bond wras not the matter which the judge was authorized to “hear and determine,” hut was a matter collateral thereto, an act performed or a proceeding had before the clerk as required by law. Section 177, Code 1887.

The case authorized to be heard and determined by the circuit judge, in vacation, arose upon the writ of error and supermleas awarded to the judgment of the county court, and was presented in the record thus brought to the circuit court, and the question presented and to be heard and determined, was whether the judgment of the county court wuis right or w’rong. This did not and could not embrace the right to enquire into a proceeding before the clerk in his office in respect to the bond required in order to perfect the writ of error and supersedeas. It follows, therefore, that the preteuded judgment of the judge, in vacation, as to the sufficiency of the bond taken by the clerk, is not a judgment in the rase.

This matter may be further illustrated by reference to sections 3426 and 3427, Code 1887, the first of these sections being with respect to interlocutory decrees and orders in vacation, and the second with respect to submitting chancery causes for decision in vacation. They are as follows :

§ 3426. “ On the motion of any party to a chancery cause pending in a circuit court, on reasonable notice to tlie adverse party or his counsel, the judge of such court may, in vacation, make any interlocutory decree or order, or direct any proceeding therein, preparatory to the hearing of the cause on the merits; and may, also, after like notice to the adverse party or his counsel and to the purchaser, make an order confirming or refusing to confirm a sale made under a decree in any such cause.”

§ 8427. “ Any chancery cause pending in a circuit court may, by consent of parties in term entered of record, or by the like consent in vacation, be submitted by the said judge for such decision and decree therein in vacation as might be made in term. When such consent is in vacation, the judge shall certify the fact to the clerk of the court in which the cause is pending, to be entered by him in his chancery order-book. He shall, also, certify the decree and orders madehy him in vacation to such clerk, to he entered in like manner. All decrees and orders so made and entered shall have the same force and effect as if made and entered in term.”

The language of these sections is quite broad and comprehensive. It authorizes a judge, in vacation, to make any interlocutory decree, or order or direct any proceedings therein, preparatory to the hearing of the cause on the merits. But suppose, when the judge, in vacation, comes to consider the propriety of making any such interlocutory decree or order, or to dirqct any proceedings in the cause, preparatory to the hearing of the cause on the merits, or even when he comes to con- ! aider of the final decree to be entered therein, it should be discovered that the case had not been matured at rules for trial, and that the cause had, therefore, been prematurely submitted for decision in vacation, can it be supposed for a moment that the judge, in vacation, could assume the powers and functions of the court in term, and exercise control over the proceedings had in the clerk’s office prior to the submission of the canse for decision in vacation ? Certainly not. Why ? .'Because by section 3293, Code 1887, it is provided : “ The court shall have control over all proceedings in the office during the preceding vacation. It niay re-instate any cause discontinued during such vacation; set aside any of the said proceedings, or correct any mistake therein, and make such order concerning the same as may he just. The power thus conferred to control the proceedings in the office is a power to be exercised by the. court, in term, and not by the judge, in vacation. It follows, therefore, that if a judge, in vacation, may, in the exercise of the authority specially conferred by statute to hear and determine an appeal, or a writ of error, inquire into the sufticiency of the existing bond, and make an order requiring a new bond or new or additional security, then, in the case supposed of a chancery cause submitted for decision in vacation, he could with equal propriety assume control over the proceeding in the office. In the one case the order requiring new or additional security is not a judgment in the. ease, and in the •other case any order made touching the proceedings in the clerk’s office would not be an interlocutory decree or order in the cause.

In all cases, whether with a superior or inferior court, a purely statutory authority must he pursued in strict accordance with the legislative grant of power, and it cannot he extended by implication.

“ When a statute prescribes a term time it is essential that to the jurisdiction that it should be exercised at that time; and if it transacts business at a different time its proceedings will be void. * * * * The rule is, that where the law authorizes a court to do an act it is meant that the court in term time must do it, and not the judge in vacation.” Wells on Juris. of Courts, § 132.

In this state many provisions are made by statute for the execution of new bonds, or for requiring additional security on existing bonds. They will be found in sections 178, 227, 753, 815, 2687, 2887, 2888, 3415, 3420, 3472 and 3540, Code of 1887, and need not be more particularly referred to here. Of the sections referred to, 3472 and 3540 make provision for securing indemnity to sureties on appeal bonds and bonds for security of costs; but nowhere is provision made for requiring new bonds on the motion of appellees. And in every instance in which provision is made in these numerous sections the relief sought is to be obtained by motion in open court in term, and not elsewhere. Section 3470 provides that the writ of error shall not take effect until .bond be given by the appellants, or some other person, in a penalty to be fixed by the court or judge, with conditions, &c. Section 3471 provides that such bond shall be taken by the clerk of the ajipellate court, before process is issued thereupon. As such bpnd was taken, with a surety, Who testified as to his sufficiencty, and the clerk, being satisfied of the fact, accepted him. The writ of error took effect from the acceptance of the bond .by the clerk of the circuit court.. It continued and remained operative up to and on the 11th of August, 1891, when the order complained of was made by the judge in vacation. The defendant in error not only cited the plaintiff in error to appear before the judge of the circuit court, in vacation, on a motion to be made on that day to hear and determine the- writ of error and supersedeas, but also on a motion to be made on the same day and at the same place, requiring new or additional security. The last-named motion was first submitted; and, thereupon, the plaintiff in error moved the court, to hear the first-named, motion, but the court overruled his motion, and proceeded to hear the motion of the defendant in error for new or additional security, and made the order complained of.

There is nothing in the insistence by counsel for the defendant in error that to hold that the judge, in vacation, did not have the power to make the order in question, would in effect deprive him of the benefit of the summary remedy provided by law for the recovery of his land, and to have his costs and damages made secure. The 'clerk who took the bond is himself a bonded officer. By section 177, Code 1887, it is, among other things, provided that “ Evei’y bond required by law to be taken or approved by or given before any court, board, or officer, unless otherwise provided, shall be made payable to the commonwealth of Virginia, with surety deemed sufficient by such court, board or officer. Every such bond required of any person appointed to or undertaking any office, post, or trust, and every bond required to be taken of any person, by an order or decree of court, unless otherwise provided, shall be,with condition for the faithful discharge by him of the duties of his office, post, or trust,” &c. This, of course, embraces clerks of circuit courts.

Section 178 provides that “ The proper court, whenever, in its opinion, it may be necessary for the protection of the public interest, may order any officer of whom a bond is required by law, to give a new bond, or a bond in addition to the one already given, within such time, not less than ten nor more than thirty days, as the court, may prescribe,” &c. And by section 180 it is provided, “ Suits may be prosecuted from time to time upon any bond mentioned in sections 177 and 178, in the name of the commonwealth, for the benefit of the commonwealth, a county, or any person injured by any breach of the condition of such bond, as often as any such breach may be alleged, until damages shall be recovered for such breaches equal to the penalty of the bond. Hence, if the clerk of the circuit court of Frederick county, in taking the appeal bond in' the present case, committed a breach of the condition of his bond, and the defendant is damaged thereby, his remedy by action on the clerk’s bond is plain and ample, even if there was no other remedy. It is not denied that a circuit court may, in a proper case, require new or additional security on an appeal bond; but the power to do so is a power to be exercised by the court, in term, and not by the judge, in vacation. IVe are, therefore, clearly of opinion that the ordo of the said circuit court'complained of is coram non judice and void, and that the same must he so declared by a judgment to be entered here, and the cause removed to the circuit court of Frederick county, to be further proceeded in according to the views herein expressed.

Faüntleroy, J., dissented.

Judgment reversed.