247 N.W. 401 | N.D. | 1933
Lead Opinion
Tbis is an application for a writ of babeas corpus. It appears, from tbe petition and tbe state concedes, tbat petitioner was on tbe 13tb day of December, 1932, sentenced by a justice of tbe peace to serve thirty days in jail, pay a fine of one hundred dollars and costs amounting to four dollars and fifty cents and to serve one day for each two dollars of said fine in case of default in tbe payment of tbe fine. Tbe petitioner served tbe full thirty days of tbe jail sentence and then made an application to tbe judge of tbe district court of Burleigh oounty for a writ of habeas corpus which was denied and thereupon be petitioned tbis court for a writ.
Tbis involves tbe construction of § 9151, Compiled Laws 1913, which reads as follows: “When tbe defendant is convicted by tbe court or by a verdict of ‘guilty’ or a verdict ‘for tbe state’ which docs not .also find tbe defendant not guilty, tbe court shall render judgment tbat be be punished by a fine or by imprisonment in tbe county jail or by both fine and imprisonment, specifying tbe amount of tbe fine or time of imprisonment. A judgment of fine only may also direct that the defendant he imprisoned until the same is satisfied.” (The italics are ours.)
In tbe Revised Code of 1811 the law reads, § 126: “When tbe defendant pleads guilty and is convicted, either by tbe court or by a jury, tbe court must render judgment thereon of fine or imprisonment, or both.” Section 127: “A judgment tbat tbe defendant pay a fine may also direct tbat be be imprisoned until tbe fine is satisfied, in tbe proportion of one day’s imprisonment for each two dollars of tbe fine.” These sections of tbe Revised Code of 1877 are §§ 6167 and 6168 Compiled Laws of Dakota Territory 1887.
In 1893 tbe legislature passed an act entitled “An act providing for tbe compilation, revision and codification of tbe laws of North Dakota.” ■Chapter 74 of tbe Session Laws of 1893. Tbe commission appointed under tbis act prepared and submitted to tbe legislature in 1895 a new, complete justice code which was duly approved and passed by the
In compiling, revising and codifying the existing laws of the state, the commission took §§ 6167 and 6168 of the Compiled Laws of 1887 made.one section out of the two and made certain changes therein. One of the changes was to insert the word “only.” This must be presumed to have been done intentionally and the legislature must be presumed to have approved and passed the bill with the intention that ■the word “only” should be given its usual ordinary meaning.
. According to Webster “only” means exclusively, solely, merely, for no other purpose, at no other time, in no other wise. “Only” in the sentence “A judgment for fine only may direct that he be imprisoned until the fine is satisfied,” limits the authority of the justice of the peace, to imprison for fine, to cases where the punishment inflicted is a fine only and in no other case. If the judgment is for fine and imprisonment, there is no jurisdiction to impose imprisonment in satisfaction of the fine and the defendant is entitled to liberty when the jail sentence is served. See Dowagiac Mfg. Co. v. Mahon, 13 N. D. 516, 101 N: W. 903.
The word “only” in the judiciary act (Act Cong. March 3, 1887, chap. 373, § 1, 24 Stat. at L. 552, as amended by Act Cong. August 13, 1888, chap. 866, § 1, 25 Stat. at L. 433), providing that, where jurisdiction is founded “only” on the fact of diversity of citizenship, suit may be brought in the district of the residence of either the plaintiff or defendant, is equivalent to “solely.” Whittaker v. Illinois C. R. Co. (C. C.) 176 Fed. 130, 131; Cound v. Atchison, T. & S. F. R. Co. (C. C.) 173 Fed. 527; McCormick Harvesting Mach. Co. v. Walthers, 134 U. S. 41, 33 L. ed. 833, 10 S. Ct. 485; People v. Fair, 48 Cal. 137; Fisher v. Essex Bank, 5 Gray, 373; Alder v. Schmidt, 10 N. Y. Leg. Obs. 363; Uncas Nat. Bank v. Superior, 115 Wis. 340, 91 N. W. 1004; Lee v. Chillicothe Branch (C. C.) 1 Biss. 325, Fed. Cas. No. 8,187.
The word “only,” as used in Code Civ. Proc. § 1780, providing that an action may be maintained against a foreign corporation by a nonresident “in one of the following cases only,” is inserted as a word of restriction, and implies a general jurisdiction, purposely narrowed and restrained. Chambers v. Feron & B. Co. 56 N. Y. Supp. 338 (citing
“Only,” as used in the Constitution provides that tbe Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction only, coupled with the other words employed, plainly indicates a purpose 'to render the court’s primary and principal powers appellate. People v. Richmond, 16 Colo. 274, 26 Pac. 929, 933.
Judicial Code, § 51 (U. S. C. title 28, § 112) provides that a suit between citizens of different states, where the only ground of jurisdiction is diversity of citizenship, shall be brought only in the district of the residence of either the plaintiff or the defendant, requires that a suit against a Federal Reserve Bank shall be brought in the district of its habitat; the word “only” meaning “exclusive,” “nothing more.” Bacon v. Federal Reserve Bank (D. C.) 289 Fed. 513-519.
In the instant case the justice of the peace having sentenced the petitioner to both fine and imprisonment and also to further imprisonment in case the fine was not paid, that part of the judgment imposing imprisonment to satisfy the fine is void and it appearing that petitioner has served the jail sentence he is entitled to his liberty and the writ will issue.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). The sole question involved in this case is whether a justice of the peace has authority to order (in a judgment of conviction) that a defendant be imprisoned on failure to pay a fine in a case where an offense is punishable by both fine and imprisonment and the justice of the peace has sentenced the offender to both fine and imprisonment.
The majority opinion sets forth, some of the provisions of the Justice’s Code of the Territory of Dakota for 1877 and makes reference to the compilation, revision and codification authorized by the legislative assembly of North Dakota in 1893 resulting in the preparation and adoption of the Justice’s Code contained in the Revised Codes of 1895. The latter Code, while containing many new provisions, was largely a revision of the former laws and the territorial code of 1877 formed the basis of the structure. Many of its sections were retained without change. In some instances, as indicated in the majority
Sec. 9007. “. . . Each justice’s court has . . . jurisdiction and authority coextensive with the county or judicial subdivision to hear, try and determine every criminal action in which the offense charged is punishable by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed thirty days or by both such fine and imprisonment, and every other criminal action in which jurisdiction is specially conferred by law.”
Sec. 9157. “When the defendant is convicted by the court or by a verdict of ‘guilty’ or a verdict ‘for the state’ which does not also find the defendant not .guilty, the court shall render judgment that he be punished by a fine or by imprisonment in the county jail or by both fino and imprisonment, specifying the amount of the fine or time of imprisonment. A judgment of fine only may also direct that the defendant be imprisoned until the same is satisfied. In a case in which the court has a discretion as to the extent of the punishment, it may, upon the suggestion of either party before rendering judgment, hear testimony as to circumstances proper to be considered in aggravation or mitigation of punishment.”
Sec. 9159. “A judgment, which imposes a fine without directing that the defendant be imprisoned until the same is satisfied, may be enforced in the same manner as a judgment in a civil action and execution shall issue accordingly at the request of the state’s attorney.”
Sec. 9160. “A judgment of imprisonment must be executed by delivering the defendant into the custody of the sheriff or other officer in charge of the county jail, who shall safely keep him therein until the expiration of the time specified in the judgment. A judgment of fine which directs that the defendant be imprisoned until the fine is paid must be executed in like manner except that the time of imprisonment
It will be noted that these statutes authorize a justice of the peace to impose three different forms of punishment: (1) A fine; (2) imprisonment in a county jail; and (3) both fine and imprisonment. The judgment involved here imposed both fine and imprisonment.
In the majority opinion great stress is laid upon the word “only” in the following sentence in § 9157: “A judgment of fine only may also direct that the defendant be imprisoned until the same is satisfied.” The majority opinion is predicated upon the theory that the word “only” was intended to limit the power of a justice of the peace to order imprisonment in case of non-payment of fine to cases wherein a fine alone is imposed and to deprive him of power to enforce payment of fine by imprisonment in a case where both fine and imprisonment are adjudged. In short, the majority opinion construes the sentence quoted to have precisely the same meaning as though it read: “A judgment of fine may direct that the defendant be imprisoned until the same is satisfied only where the judgment imposes only a fine; but the defendant may not be so imprisoned where a judgment imposing a fine, also, imposes imprisonment.” I am unable to agree with this conclusion or the reasoning on which it is based. I have no quarrel with the various authorities cited in the majority opinion. These are cases where the familiar rule of statutory construction that the expression of one thing is the exclusion of another is clearly applicable; but I fail to see how that rule can have any application here. In the sentence quoted the legislature was dealing with judgments- imposing one type of punishment, namely, a judgment for fine only and it defined the pov^er of a justice of the peace in such cases. It said that in such case the court should have power to order imprisonment in case of nonpayment of the fine. I fail to see how it can be said that this evidences any legislative intention to restrict the power of a justice of the peace as regards the enforcement of a judgment of any of the other two types of punishment, which the justice of the peace is authorized to impose. In the enactment of 1895, the legislative assembly, for reasons which seemed sufficient to it, sought to clarify the law, as regards the enforcement of a judgment for fine only. The provision in § 9157, supra, upon which reliance is made by the majority is not the only
Reports of the adjudicated cases in other states indicate that considerable difficulty and confusion had arisen as regards the enforcement of a judgment for fine alone. The provisions adopted by the legislative assembly in 1895 clarified the law as regards the. controversial questions that had arisen elsewhere as regards the enforcement of a judgment for fine only. While there was, and is, some conflict in the authorities as to whether in the case of a judgment for both fine and imprisonment payment of the fine may be enforced by imprisonment, the general rule in force in this country is that “where the punishment for an offense is both fine and imprisonment, the court may order defendant, for a failure to pay the fine, to be imprisoned, and that such imprisonment begin after the expiration of the term fixed as a punishment for the crime.” 25 C. J". p. 1159; see also 8 Enc. PI. & Pr. p. 968.
This is the rule in force in this state in cases where a person is convicted in a district court or in a county court with increased jurisdiction. State v. Merry, 20 N. D. 337, 127 N. W. 83. See also State v. Fleming, 20 N. D. 105, 126 N. W. 565. And as I understand the majority opinion it is not denied that this same rule was in force in this state in justices’ courts prior to the enactment of the Justices’ Code in 1895.
The rule announced by the majority will lead to some rather peculiar results. Both the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Justices’ Code provide that where a defendant is imprisoned in default of payment of fine, the time of imprisonment shall be at the rate of one day for each two dollars of the fine. Comp. Laws 1913, §§ 9,160, 10,941. If a person is convicted of an offense in a district court or in a county court having increased jurisdiction and the court imposes both fine and imprisonment the defendant may be imprisoned in default of payment of fine at the rate of one day for each two dollars of fine. State v. Merry, 20 N. D. 337, 127 N. W. 83. But, according to the rule announced by the majority in this case, if he is convicted of precisely
According to tbe rule announced by tbe majority a justice of tbe peace may sentence a person to thirty days’ imprisonment in a county jail; be may sentence him to thirty days’ imprisonment and to pay a fine of one hundred dollars (in which case payment of tbe fine may be enforced by execution only) ; or be may sentence him to pay a fine of one hundred dollars and on default in payment of such fine to fifty days’ imprisonment; but if such justice of tbe peace sentences a person to one days’ imprisonment and to pay a fine of two dollars be is powerless to enforce payment of such two dollars fine by an additional days imprisonment. Is it possible that tbe legislature intended to bring about any such condition of affairs ? Is it possible that tbe legislature intended that there might be such radical differences in tbe actual results so far as punishment is concerned for tbe same crime, dependent solely upon in which of two courts conviction was bad ?
I realize that these unusual and somewhat ludicrous results do not argue against tbe correctness of a statutory construction which leads thereto. Nevertheless it may not be amiss to look at tbe results that will follow from a given construction as it should not be assumed that the lawmakers intended to create undesirable or absurd situations.
In tbe provision on which tbe majority predicate tbe bolding that tbe legislature intended to deprive a justice of tbe peace of power to enforce payment of a fine by imprisonment in all cases where both fine and imprisonment are imposed, tbe legislative assembly was dealing only with judgments where a fine alone is imposed. The legislative assembly was not concerned, and did not purport to deal, with judgments in which both fine and imprisonment are imposed. What it said as regards tbe power of a justice of tbe peace to enforce tbe payment of a judgment for fine alone by imprisonment was a specific grant of