44 Mo. 346 | Mo. | 1869
delivered the opinion of the court.
The objection that this court is precluded from issuing a mandamus in this case, because the County Court has the right to decide who is elected judge of the Buchanan Court of Common Pleas, is not tenable. The act establishing the Court of Common Pleas provides that ‘‘when two or more persons shall receive an equal number of votes for said office, and more than any other person, the County Court'of said county shall decide which one of them shall hold the same ; and whenever there shall be a contested election, the said county shall decide the same.” The act further provides that “when said officer shall be elected, or decided by the County Court to be entitled, to said office, the justices of said court shall make out a commission, signed by them or a majority of them, attested by the clerk of said court under his seal of office, who shall immediately deliver the same to the person thus chosen. (Sess. Acts 1853, p. 78.) By the foregoing provisions the functions of the County Court are in the first instance ministerial, though their judicial action may be evoked on the happening of a certain contingency. The words “ or decided by said County Court to be entitled to said office” have reference to a case where a contest has been had, or where
The case is quite different here. The County Court is an inferior tribunal, over which, by the constitution and laws of the State, this court has supervisory control, and can compel it to act when it refuses to perform or proceed in the execution of a plain duty enjoined on it by law. Were this the only question in the record, the writ necessarily would have to be issued.
But the petition shows, and the fact is admitted, that the registration law was not complied with previous to the election. No new or supplementary registration was had whatever. The election was only for a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and was a special as distinguished from a general election, within the meaning of the statute. But whether general or special, the result is the same, as it is a positive requirement that registration should precede the election. The act declares that the election for judge of the Court of Common Pleas shall be conducted in all respects in the same manner as may be provided by law for the election of members of the Legislature.' It is obvious that there could be no valid election for a member of the Legislature without a prior registration. (Sess. Acts 1868, p. 131.)
This court will not issue a peremptory writ of mandamus unless the relator shows that he has a good title or a perfect right to the remedy he demands. He can derive no right from an illegal or invalid election.
This controversy has grown out of a difference of opinion entertained as to the tenure of the office of Common Pleas judge for Buchanan county. The question as to when the term commences and ends is not raised in the issue presented by the pleadings, and we can therefore give no decision upon it. The act establishing the court requires the election to take place in August. Whether that act has been modified or amended, so as 'to prescribe a different term, we do not know, as nothing has been presented on the subject.
For the reason that the requirements of the law as to registration were wholly neglected, the demurrer will be sustained.