People v. District Court of Arecibo
People v. District Court of Arecibo
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
While this application is made in a criminal case the general principles of certiorari are applicable to it. The court below, after the ease of the government was closed, did not grant the motion of the prosecuting attorney to reopen the case to admit evidence tending to show that the facts complained of took place within the jurisdiction of the court. This was at most an abuse of discretion, but no error of procedure. The writ of certiorari does not lie. The Fiscal cites copious jurisprudence on the matter of- discretion, but little or nothing to show authority for the issuance of the extraordinary remedy. It makes no practical difference whether the defendants submitted the case without evidence before or after the motion of the government.
If we entered the field of discretion, we question whether such a ease was presented as would warrant us in reversing the action of the court. The very jurisprudence, frankly
In the case of State v. Martin, (Miss.) 59 So. 7, 8, the court did reverse for failure to reopen a case and permit the proof of venue. While, so far, the policy of Porto Bico is distinct, yet it is to be noticed that that ease arrived in the appellate court by way of an appeal. In Porto Bico from a judgment of acquittal there is no appeal. Whether there was an appeal or not the writ of certiorari can not serve the purpose of an appeal. The action of the court, if reviewable at all, should have been so by appeal.
The petitioner says that the form of the judgment in this case was erroneous or even entered without jurisdiction. After considering the facts and the law the court declared itself without jurisdiction and ordered the case filed away. Perhaps it would have been better if the judgment had
There is a further and fundamental reason why this cer-tiorari should not he granted. The action of the court was in effect or directly an acquittal. There is no way then under our system of laws to subject the defendants to another trial for this offense.
The writ will be denied.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.