People ex rel. Ryan v. Russel

By the Court.*—Barnard, P. J. The city judge of the city of Hew York, by the act creating his office, was clothed with all the judicial powers vested by law in the recorder of the city (Laws of 1850, chap. 205, § 3), and was directed by the same section to perform and discharge all judicial duties imposed231 upon such recorder concurrently with him. The recorder is by.statute vested with the power of a Supreme Court commissioner (2 Rev, Stat., 281, 35). As such, he has power to allow a writ of habeas corpus, returnable before himself, and to take such proceedings upon a return to the writ, as one authorized by the statute governing the proceedings in such cases, and to adjudge a discharge of the party imprisoned or not, as he shall finally determine (2 Rev. Stat., 280, § 18). The question presented by the appeal papers is whether the city judge has power to allow a writ of habeas corpus. It is claimed under the authority of Yates v '. Lansing (5 Johns., 282), that the act of allowing such writ is ministerial, and not judicial, and this decision has been followed by this court in Matter of Nash (16 Abb. Pr., 281),—and that therefore the city judge had no power to allow the writ, being only possessed of the judicial powers of the recorder. The case of Yates v. Lansing did not arise under the present statutes in relation to habeas corpus. As the law then stood, if the chancellor, or judge of the Supreme Court, “ in the vacation term,” should “ deny to allow any writ of habeas corpus by this act required to be granted, being applied for as aforesaid, he shall forfeit to the party grieved one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars” (1 Rev. Laws of 1813, 355, § 4). The action was against the chancellor under the fifth section of the same act, for re-imprisonment of a person discharged by the Supreme Court, which imposed an equal penalty for such re-imprisoning. It was held that the chancellor was not liable. That the act for which the action was brought was judicial, and no action would lie for a judicial error in judgment. ■ In giving the opinion of the court, the chief justice does say that “ the allowance of the writ in vacation is not a judicial act,” but the question as to the character in which a judge allowed a writ in vacation was not before the court, nor was the same at all involved in the decision of the question which was presented by that case. I think under the present statute, it may well be questioned if the allowance of the writ of habeas corpus is a ministerial act. The contents of the petition are prescribed, and the exceptions of those classes of persons given by statute who cannot prosecute it; a copy of the paper under which restraint is made is to be annexed, unless excuse be made for its omission. The officer may determine the question whether he will allow the writ [232] or not. That he is made responsible to the party applying, for an erroneous decision, is true. So is the Supreme Court judge, either at chambers or special term. So are all courts or officers, who have power to allow the writ, but it seems to me, that the fact of responsibility for error does not determine the character . of the act done. It is judicial, if it be the exercise of an authority he possesses as judge, which he may or may not exercise, as he shall determine the action to be legal or not. It will thus be seen that it is. of serious question if the case of Yates v. Lansing is authority, for the case of Matter of -Hash, upon the point whether the act of the allowance of a writ of habeas corpus is a ministerial act under the statute as it now stands; but I think the city judge has jurisdiction to allow these writs, whether the allowance of them is ministerial or judicial. He is given the same judicial power as the recorder. After the writ is allowed, and the imprisoned person is brought before the officer, “ he is to discharge the bail and remand him as he shall be advised, and no action or penalty is given for what he shall then do or refuse to do ” (Yates v. Lansing, 5 Johns., 282). The power to hear and determine this matter is judicial. The recorder has this power. If the exercise of a judicial power given by law to the city judge, requires the doing of a necessary ministerial act to initiate such proceeding, he may do such act. The city judge has therefore power to allow the writ; but he may refuse. As it is discretionary with him whether he allows it or not, the remedy is not by mandamus. The writ of mandamus, when addressed to a judicial officer, or to a court, can only order the officer or court to decide upon the matter before it, but there is no power to direct him howto decide. That rests entirely in the discretion of the court or officer. As the city judge did decide in this case, we cannot direct him to alter his decision. Footnotes [*] Present, Barnard, P. J., and Ingraham and Sutherland,, JJ.