Durden v. State
Durden v. State
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
The appellant was convicted in a justice of the peace court of the unlawful sale of intoxicating liquor. He appealed to the circuit court, but he was not present when his case was called on the docket, and made no answer in person or by attorney. The court dismissed his appeal, and ordered that a writ of procedendo issue. The appellant, by attorney, moved the court to set aside the
The appeal bond executed by the appellant required him to appear at the next term of the circuit court, and from day to day and term to term, until discharged by law. The case was on the circuit court docket for trial. "When-it was called, and the appellant failed to appear and answer the charge against him, as required by law, the court had the right to dismiss the appeal, and take all other necessary action in the case. There is no fixed rule governing the matter of reinstating a case, where dismissal has been ordered because of the failure of appellant to appear and answer the charge against him, as required in his appeal bond. Each case arising must be addressed to the sound judgment of the trial judge, in the exercise of his discretion.
From all appearing in the record in the instant case, it cannot be said that the judge of the court abused proper discretion. It is certainly the purpose of the law that every person charged with a violation of the criminal law should be present in court, ready to personally respond whenever his case is called for hearing.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- B. E. Durden v. State
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Criminal Law. Appeal. Dismissal. Reinstatement. Where a defendant appealed to the circuit court from a convietion in a justice of the peace court and gave an appeal bond providing that he should appear at the next term of the circuit court, and from day to day and term to term, until discharged by law, and upon the case being called in the circuit court for trial the defendant failed to appear and answer the charge against him as required by law, the court had the right to dismiss the appeal, and take ,all necessary action in the case. 2. Same. There is no fixed rule governing the matter of reinstating a case, where dismissal has been ordered because of the failure of defendant to appear and answer the charge against him as required in his appeal bond, each case is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial judge. .