McDonald v. Jenkins

■CHIEF JUSTICE HOLT delivered the opinion of the court. This petition for a mandamus was filed in the Eranklin Circuit Court to compel the appellant, McDonald, as a ■Justice of the Peace, to approve a toaverse bond in a proceeding upon a writ of forcible detainer, that had been tried before him. The Code-of Practice provides that bond shall be given with sufficient surety, to be approved by the justice, for the costs of the proceeding and all damages caused by the traverse. It it not admitted that the surety offered was sufficient. That is now, and has been all the time, in issue. No such abuse of discretion is shown as, according to some decisions, authorizes the issual of the writ; and the question is presented, whether the writ will issue where the justice has, in good faith and in the exercise of his ■discretion, refused to accept the surety upon the ground that he is not, in his opinion, sufficient, but the superior tribunal that is asked to issue the writ, is, from the evidence before it, of a different opinion. As there is some contrariety of decision, it may help to .guide us to a correct conclusion to briefly notice some .general and elementary principles of the law upon this subject. [251] The use of this writ is confined to cases where the person ' has a clear legal right, and no other adequate remedy. It can only be invoked where, without it, there will be a failure of justice. If the act to be done be a mere ministerial one, commanded by law; if its performance be a mere ministerial -duty, a mere incident of the office, then, whether the person who should do it be a judge or a strictly ministerial officer, the writ will lie to compel performancé. In other words, it does not follow that an act is judicial because done by a judge. Eor instance, a justice acts as his own clerk; and where he is required by law to do an act which in its nature-is ministerial and involves no exercise of judgment, the writ will lie to compel performance in case of refusal. : Where, however, the act may or may not be done in the discretion or judgment of the party against whom the order is sought, it can only be invoked to set him in motion, and not to control his discretion. It may be used to compel action by a judge, but not to control the ■direction of his judgment. It is often difficult to draw the line between those acts which are purely ministerial and those which partake of a judicial character. The nature of the act must be considered. Its character must determine whether the writ will lie. Is it in its nature judicial, or quasi judicial? 1 It is said that in this case, when the justice had decided the case his judicial functions ended, and that the taking of the bond was a mere ministerial act. He was required, however, to take a sufficient bond; one that would cover the costs of the proceeding, and all damages that might result from the traverse. This embraced whatever dam [252] ages might result from withholding the possession during the pendency of the traverse in all courts to which the case might be taken, and the reasonable expenses of defending it. He had not only to exercise Ms judgment as to the solvency of the surety, but in estimate of the-probable damages. He had to hear and weigh evidence upon these subjects, and then exercise his best judgment. It is a general rule that where an officer has a discretion, it will not be controlled by mandamus. (Swan v. Gray, 44 Miss., 393.) • This rule is necessary to the safe and pure administration of justice. If, in cases where he is required to exercise his judgment, he were constantly liable to suit, resulting in orders to do different, his independence would be destroyed, and that public confidence in official action, which is so necessary in the State, would cease to exist. If, looking to any hardship that may arise, it be said that an individual may sometimes suffer by his error, yet, this liability exists in all official action. If he acts corruptly, or designedly abuses his authority, he is liable to action; but being a disinterested party, he should not be liable to the costs of a suit where he errs in judgment, when he is required by law to exercise this judgment. Usually, if a litigant can give security which is in fact sufficient, he .can give such security as will satisfy the doubt of the officer who-is required to judge of it. The approval or disapproval of the bond requires, of course, the exercise of discretion and judgment. The-act is, in its nature, judicial. If, in such a case, he may he ordered against his own judgment to accept the bond, his discretion is taken away and the judgment of another [253] is substituted in its place. Tbe law in one breatb would tell bim to exercise bis judgment, and in another it would take it away from bim. After not only giving bim tbe right to exercise bis discretion, and requiring bim at his peril to do so, it would take it away from bim and order bim to do that which, in bis opinion, be ought not to do. It would subject to slavery bis judicial opinion, and compel him to err in bis judgment. This is contrary to reason, and tbe law does not require it. Tbe writ will not lié to correct tbe erroneous judicial or quasi judicial action of subordinate officers or tribunals. It has been held that tbe action of a clerk of a court, in approving a bond where be is required by law to judge of tbe solvency of tbe sureties, is quasi judicial, and tbe exercise of the power will not be controlled by mandamus. (McDuffie v. Cook, 65 Ala., 430; Mobile Mutual Ins. Company v. Cleveland, 76 Ala., 321.) It was tbe duty of tbe justice to take a sufficient bond. This necessarily required tbe exercise of discretion and judgment. There was no. admission that it was sufficient, which would have obviated tbe need of an- exercise of bis judgment. Tbe action was, at least, quasi judicial, and, therefore, mandamus does not lie. Tbe judgment is reversed with directions to dismiss tbe petition.