96 P. 395 | Cal. Ct. App. | 1908
This is an original application for a writ of review, the purpose of which is to have it determined that the superior court exceeded its jurisdiction in refusing petitioner's request for a jury trial, in a cause appealed to said court from a justice's court, and in trying said cause without a jury, and in entering judgment against petitioner upon said trial notwithstanding his demand for a jury trial.
The petition shows that the superior court refused to allow petitioner a jury because of failure to comply with the rules of the court concerning the time within which the demand for a jury must be made.
The writ of review may not be used to correct errors, but can only be issued where the court, to which it may be directed, has acted without or in excess of its jurisdiction. The basis of petitioner's contention in this case is that the court acted in excess of its jurisdiction in trying the case without a jury notwithstanding petitioner's demand for a jury. It is sometimes a nice question as to whether a particular action of the court is mere error, or is in excess of jurisdiction; but in this state it has been decided that the denial of a jury trial in a case where a jury might be waived is error only, and not action in excess of jurisdiction. (Ex parte Miller,
Both in criminal cases not amounting to felony, and in civil actions, the right of trial by jury may be waived. (Const., art. I, sec. 7.) In Ex parte Miller,
So in the case at bar the court had jurisdiction of the parties and of the subject matter of the action, and its refusal of petitioner's demand for a jury was at most mere error which did not go to its jurisdiction.
The petition is denied.
Cooper, P. J., and Kerrigan, J., concurred.