State v. Roach

195 Wis. 545 | Wis. | 1928

Rosenberry, J.

The petition for the writ of habeas corpus is addressed to the county court of Florence county, state of Wisconsin. The writ is attested: “Witness the Hon. Frank Waring, county judge in and for Florence county, Wisconsin, on the 29th day of September, A. D. 1927.” The bill of exceptions settled by stipulation in the case recites :

“Be it remembered that this action was brought on for trial in the county court for Florence county, Wisconsin, at the courthouse in the town of Florence, Florence county, Wisconsin, on the 29th day of September, A. D. 1927, and that said action was then and there tried by the Honorable Frank Waring, county judge presiding.”

At the close of the hearing the following order was made:

“It appears to the court that Kelgar Olson, who was elected justice of the peace for the town of Homestead, Florence county, Wisconsin, on the 7th day of April, A. D. 1927, the time prescribed by law, and is therefore not a duly qualified justice of the peace; that said Kelgar Olson was without authority or jurisdiction to issue search warrants and therefore petitioner was unlawfully arrested, and is hereby ordered discharged and released from the custody of the sheriff.”

It was clearly a proceeding in the county court of Florence county.

In the plaintiff’s brief the question of whether or not the justice was a de facto officer is the only matter argued. In the respondent’s brief it is suggested that under sec. 274.05, Stats., which provides:

“Writs of error may issue of course out of the supreme court, in vacation as well as in term, returnable to that court, to review the order or judgment of any court discharging or remanding a person brought before it by writ of habeas corpus, or an order or judgment reversing or affirming the order of any judge or court commissioner discharging or remanding a person thus brought before him, and to review final judgments in actions triable by jury, except actions for divorce,”—

a writ of error does not lie to a court commissioner, citing State v. Brownell, 80 Wis. 563, 50 N. W. 413.

By sec. 252.16, Stats., county judges have the powers of court commissioners; cóurt commissioners have the powers of circuit judges at chambers. Sec. 252.15. The writ of error in this case is addressed not to a county judge exercising the powers of a court commissioner, but is addressed directly to the county court of Florence county.

But the county court of Florence county has no' jurisdiction to issue a writ of habeas corpus. Sec. 292.03 provides :

“Application for such writ shall be by petition, signed either by the party for whose relief it is intended or by some person in his behalf, and may be made to the supreme court, or to the circuit court of the county, or to any justice or judge of the supreme, circuit or county court, or any court commissioner, being within the county where the prisoner is detained.”

The order of the county court of Florence county being made without jurisdiction is void and of no effect. If the proceeding had been before the county judge exercising the power of a court commissioner, a review could be had only by writ of certiorari from the circuit court or a court having the jurisdiction of a circuit court. In re Hammer, 113 Wis. 96, 89 N. W. 111; State v. Brownell, 80 Wis. 563, 50 N. W. 413. The determination of the reviewing court would then be subject to review under the provisions of sec. 274.05. The defendant was improperly discharged, and it will be the duty of the proper officer to take him into custody. While the merits were fully argued, there being no jurisdiction in the court below we acquire none here to pass upon the merits. We can do no more than reverse the order and direct the dismissal of the proceeding. Saltzstein v. Nahmens, 153 Wis. 272, 139 N. W. 751, 141 N. W. 234; Sueterlee v. Sir, 25 Wis. 357.

By the Court. — The order of the county court of Florence county is vacated and set aside, and cause remanded with directions to dismiss the proceeding.