Potts v. Jackson County Supervisors

Michigan Supreme Court
Potts v. Jackson County Supervisors, 47 Mich. 635 (Mich. 1882)
11 N.W. 413

Potts v. Jackson County Supervisors

Opinion of the Court

Per Curiam.

The relator is a justice of the peace in Jackson county, and had presented to the board of supervisors a bill for his services in criminal cases. Among the items were charges for the trial of cases in which the defendants pleaded guilty. These charges the supervisors refused to allow on the ground that the statute did not entitle the relator to make them. The relator now applies for a mandamus.

In a previous case — not reported — which arose under the Compiled Laws of 18T1, the court held that the statute did not give a trial fee to the justice except in cases where an issue was actually tried. If the defendant pleaded guilty, there was nothing to try, and the justice was only entitled to the fees which were given for other specific services in the case.

The statute of 1881 does not make any change in this regard. Deceiving a confession is not a trial, and there is no trial fee when there is no trial.

Reference

Full Case Name
William H. Potts v. Jackson County Supervisors
Status
Published