In re the Accounts of Gregory's Administrator
In re the Accounts of Gregory's Administrator
Opinion of the Court
The question reserved for decision in this case, arises .upon a motion made to dismiss a certiorari,, which had been previously allowed, to reverse an order of the-court of common pleas, acting as a court of probate.
The transcript returned in obedience to the certiorari, shows that at a special session of the court of common-pleas of Franklin county, on the 13th of August, 1838, letters of administration were granted to Mary Eliza Gregory
The motion to dismiss the certiorari, is based upon the ground that this court have not the constitutional power to interfere in matters of a testamentary and probate nature or character.
The second section of the third article of -the constitution provides “ that the supreme court shall consist of three judges, any two of whom shall be a quorum. They shall have original and appellate jurisdiction, both in common law and chancery, in such cases as shall be directed by law.” In the latter part of the section, provision is made, that after a certain period, the court may consist of four judges.
The third section of the same article has reference to the court of common pleas, and prescribes that that court “ shall have common law and chancery jurisdiction in all such cases as shall be directed by law.”
In another section, that is, the fifth, it is further prescribed that “ the court of common pleas, in each county, shall have jurisdiction of all probate and testamentary matter, granting administration, the appointment of guardians, and such other cases as shall be prescribed by law.”
In view of these different provisions, this court, since my acquaintance with it, has uniformly held that jurisdiction in probate and testamentary matters, was exclusively in the court of common pleas. And that in the exercise of that jurisdiction, it could not be interfered with by this court. The furthest extent to which we have gone, has been to review the proceedings of that court, in orders made for the sale of the lands of an intestate for the payment of debts, and this has been done, alone upon the consideration, that under existing laws, proceedings in such cases, are somewhat in the nature of adversary proceedings or suits.
As the matters which we are now called upon to review', are purely of a probate character, in accordance with the uniform practice of this court, the writ of certiorari must be lismissed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.