Alexandria Naval Stores Co. v. J. F. Ball Bro. Lumber Co.
Alexandria Naval Stores Co. v. J. F. Ball Bro. Lumber Co.
Opinion of the Court
The present proceeding is-an application for a writ of mandamus to the judge of the Thirteenth judicial district court, in and for the parish of Rapides, where-the above-entitled cause is pending.
On April 5th, the defendant applied to the trial judge for a rule on the clerk of the trial court to show cause why a transcript of the said testimony should not be at once filed in the records in the case. The judge granted this rule, but made it returnable on April 24th, the date fixed for the resumption of the trial of the case.
The defendant then, on April 11th, filed the present proceeding in this court, asking for a mandamus to the trial judge commanding him to fix an earlier date for the hearing of said rule, a date early enough to allow counsel an opportunity to read the said testimony before the resumption of the trial; and a rule nisi issued accordingly to the trial judge.
In answer to this rule the trial judge says that the petition for the rule was presented to him while he was in Colfax, parish of Grant, holding court, and that as the condition of the criminal docket of his court in that parish was such that he would have to remain in that parish and continue holding court there until the 24th of April, when he would return to Rapides parish to hold court, he fixed the rule for the latter date; it being the earliest when he could be in the parish of Rapides consistently with his judicial duties in the parish of Red River.
“It shall be the duty of the clerk of the district court to file in court within ten days of the taking of same a transcript of the testimony so reported.”
It was plainly the duty of the clerk to file such copy, and the judge was without authority to interfere in the premises; and we understand our learned Brother has recognized that much, doubtless on his attention having been called to this statute. But we do not see how he could have deserted his court in the parish of Grant to go to Rapides to try this rule.
As the supervisory jurisdiction of this court is limited to courts, and does not extend to officers of courts, we are not in a position to grant the writ thus asked for against the clerk of court.
The present application is therefore now denied, at the cost of the relator.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.