Perry v. . Shepherd

Reads, J. Our reports furnish but one instance of the use of the writ of prohibition in the State, which must be-owing to the fact that we have other remedies more appropriate and equally efficacious. It cannot be said that a new case has arisen calling for this unusual remedy, because forcible entry and detainer as this was, which is sought to be prohibited, has been common in our Courts. The case alluded to in which it was resorted to, is State v. Allen, 2 Ire. 183, in which it was sought to prohibit the de facto Commissioners for laying off the seat of justice of Henderson County from acting. It was held that it would not lie in *85 that case, and the Court did not say that it would lie in any case, but did say that if any Court had the power, it ought to be exercised with caution, and never used except in a yery clear case calling for an immediate remedy. And -the same rule obtains in England where it is a common law writ, framed to give the Ring’s Bench jurisdiction to restrain all the inferior Courts of the realm within their proper jurisdiction. And it Was subsequently extended to the other Courts at Westminster. “The Supreme Courts of Westminster having a superintendency of all inferior Courts, may in all cases of innovation, &c., hward a prohibition. In this, the power of the .Court of Ring’s Bench has never been doubted, being the Superior Common Law Court in the Ringdom.” Bacon’s Ah. Title, Prohibition, A. . It will be observed that no inferior Court in England had power to issue the writ. It was a high prerogative writ, and in the case' of the Company of Horners in London, it is said that it is the.jtroper power and honor of the Court of Ring’s Bench io limit the jurisdiction of all other Courts. Bacon’s Ab. Title, Prohibition, A, note (a) 2 Roll. R. 471. If then it be used in this State at all, what Court ought to ■issue it ? It would seem upon principle and by analogy, that it ought to be the Supreme Court, and not an inferior Court. If there was any doubt before the adoption of our present Constitution, itwould seem to'be plain now. The jurisdiction of the Superior Court is defined in the Constitution and in the-statutes. It isa Court of original jurisdiction, to hear and determine cases indicated, and to try appeals from inferior Courts. But there is no power express or implied to supervise and control inferior Courts. But that power is expressly given to the Supreme Court. “The Supreme Courtshall have * * * power to issue any remedial writs necessary to give it a general supervision and control of the inferior Courts.” Art.- IY § 10. *86 We áré óf the opinion that thé Superior óourfc had n& power io isSue thé writ of prohibition in this case. It would nbt be necessary for us to go further, but it was desired by both sides that wé should decide the other question, Upon which indeed WaS the burden of the argument, whether a Justice of the Peáce has jurisdiction Of forcible-entry and detainer ? It was .properly conceded for the defendants, that we-must hold that d Justice of tlié Peace lias not such jurisdiction, unless We overrule, as we weré asked té do, three of four cases lately decided in this Court. We have reconsidered those caSes in the light of the really leáfnéd argú-íriénts oh both sidfes, and We féél obliged td ádhére to théih. It is a matter of practice involving not the right, but the rehiedy. It Was much considered'at the time Of those decisions, arid conceding that it was not free from doubt, ánd conceding also that in soth'é respects it would be a convenient remedy, yet in other respects it would be mischievous*, arid so the better opinion Was, that the jurisdiction did not exist. Supposé the question Were still doubtful upon principle- and upon authority other than those of our own, what Ought wé to do ? Overrule therri 1 If so what Security woujd there be that we may not revert to thejn at some subsequent term, and wreck all who may sét sail undér the-last decision. A matter of right or of principle is eternal, and if by inadvertence we depart from it, we must return at the earliest opportunity; but as to the remedy or a matter of practice, although one way may be a little better than the othér, yet the most important matter is to make thé way certain. It is from no want of appreciation of the argument with which we -Were favored, that we do not enter into the discussion anew. It is decided. Let it stand until the Legislature may alter it. The Act of 1874-75 has not that effect.. *87 It only makes the plea of title a more solemn act, by requiring an oath. Perry v. Tupper, 70 N. C. 538; State v. Yarborough, 70 N. C. 250; A. T. & O. R. R. v. Sharpe, Ibid 509. There is error. There will be judgment here that the proceedings for the writ of prohibition be dismissed, and that the defendants recover costs. Error. Per, Curiam. Proceedings dismissed.