35 Nev. 30 | Nev. | 1912
The petitioners were arrested in Washoe County by the sheriff of Eureka County, under warrants from the justice of the peace at Eureka, charging the commission of
The questions involved in the applications for writs of habeas corpus before the district judge, and additional questions, were involved in the applications for writs of habeas corpus in this court, and these questions we have determined in an opinion filed this day in the Eureka County Bank habeas corpus cases, on the applications of these petitioners and others, and in which cases we have ordered the petitioners discharged.
For the petitioners in this proceeding, it is claimed that the purported dismissals filed by them in the district court on their arrest and detention by the bailiff of the supreme court under the order of their bail operated to place them- under arrest by virtue of the original arrest made in Washoe County by the sheriff of Eureka County under the warrants issued by the justice of the peace. It is contended that by filing the dismissals the cases before respondent were in fact dismissed, and that he was thereby deprived of jurisdiction to decide them, because a habeas corpus proceeding is similar to or is in effect a civil proceeding, and the statute in regard to civil practice provides for the dismissal of a case by the plaintiff at any time before a counterclaim is filed.
Although habeas corpus proceedings, except matters relating to penalties, which are- treated as being of a criminal nature, are often classed as being in the nature
If they had remained in custody pending the hearing and decision of the writs of habeas corpus before the respondent had filed dismissals, it might be considered that there would be nothing left to determine, and it could better be claimed that by filing the dismissals they had actually dismissed the writs or proceedings; for they would be in custody and in the same position they were before the writs were issued. But, as they were released by the respondent pending the hearing and determination of the writs, and the bond requiring them to abide the further order of the court, it would seem to be necessary for them either to surrender themselves into the custody of the officer in whose charge they were at the time the writs of habeas corpus were first issued by the respondent, or show that they had been taken into custody by some other officer, in such a way as would avoid the necessity for such surrender, so that the respondent could make the proper order relating to their custody and the exoneration of their bail.
They could not by merely filing dismissals take advantage of the release from custody which they had obtained by the order of the district court admitting them to bail until the further order of the court, without giving, the court an opportunity to determine whether they were entitled to have the cases dismissed, and to make a further order in regard to their custody or bail, notwithstanding they could dismiss as to or withdraw the proceeding, so far as it related to the controversy which they had raised in reference to the right of the officer to hold them under the warrants.
We do not deem it necessary to determine, at least at this time, whether this court will exercise such a superintending control; for, under our conclusion that the petitioners could only dismiss the controversy before the district court, and could not dismiss themselves without surrendering themselves to custody, or making a showing before the district court which would relieve them from the necessity of making such surrender, and thereupon obtaining an order of dismissal by the district court, the district court was not in error in concluding that the proceedidgs had not been dismissed. A number of cases regarding superintending control are considered and annotated in State, ex rel. McGovern, v. Williams, 136 Wis. 1, 116 N. W. 225, 20 L. R. A. (N. S.) 942-955.
The petitioners are at liberty to apply to the district court for an order for their discharge and for an exoneration of their bail, on the ground that the questions involved in the writs before the district court have been finally determined by this court favorably to the petitioners; and if such discharge is not considered favorably or granted them by the district court they may again petition this court and present for determination the question they have raised as to whether this court will exercise superintending control over the action or order of the district court in a habeas corpus proceeding.
We have often refused to issue writs commanding action by the district court until after the controlling questions have been presented and an opportunity given to the district court to pass upon them.
