Court of Appeals of Kentucky, 1877

Culbertson v. Prichard

Culbertson v. Prichard
Court of Appeals of Kentucky · Decided October 23, 1877 · Pryor
9 Ky. Op. 618; 1877 Ky. LEXIS 374

Culbertson v. Prichard

Opinion of the Court

Opinion by

Judge Pryor :

It is true, as maintained by counsel for the appellant, that no judicial power is or can be.vested in the legislature, and if the adjudica*619tion or declaration by the legislature that the appellee should pay the costs of the contested elections, or that they could be collected by an execution, or otherwise enforced as in a regular judicial proceeding, the act in question would be in violation of the Constitution. Such, however, was not the intention of the legislature. It is proper that the unsuccessful party in such cases should pay the costs; and in order to fix the liability and to furnish the evidence upon which a judgment can be rendered for the costs in a judicial proceeding, the legislature or election board is required, to adjudge the costs against the unsuccessful party. This statement, with the certificate of the board or clerk, authorized the circuit or county court to render a judgment for the costs. This certificate is made the evidence necessary to maintain the action, and is indispensable.

R. C. Barnes, for appellant. L. T. Moore, K. F. Prichard, for appellee.

It frequently happens in such bodies that the costs, by reason of legislative action, are paid out of the treasury, and therefore the necessity of fixing the liability in the manner pointed out by the statute. What reasons induced the passage of the law is immaterial in the present controversy. It is a statutory right as well as remedy, and the statute must be followed.

Judgment below affirmed.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.