State v. Ellis
State v. Ellis
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
In this case, which was a prosecution for a misdemeanor, after two capiases had been returned “not to be found,” the district attorney moved to strike
The district attorney claims the fee in this case under sec. 5193 of the Code, which is as follows:
“When a capias has been returned, not to be found, and, in felony cases, when, before or after conviction, the defendant breaks jail, or forfeits his bond for appearance, the court may strike the cause from the docket, and give judgment against the State for such costs as the State is bound to pay in case of nolle prosequi or acquittal of the defendant.”
It is contended for the district attorney that this section authorizes the court to strike from the docket all criminal cases, whether misdemeanors or felonies, when a capias has been returned not to be found; and, in felony cases, causes may be in like manner stricken off when, before or after conviction, the defendant breaks jail or forfeits his recognizance for appearance.
We think this construction of the section is obviously correct. Cases so stricken from the trial docket are not thereby discontinued or finally disposed of, but are retired, subject to be reinstated whenever it becomes proper.
The language of the Code is, that when the cases specified are stricken from the docket the court shall “give judgment against the State for such costs as the State is bound to pay in case of nolle prosequi or acquittal of the defendant.” It is insisted that the “costs” here referred to include the fees of district attorneys as well as of clerks, sheriffs, &c. Fees in criminal cases to officers must be expressly provided for by law, otherwise the officers are not entitled to them: Code, sec. 5561. And by sec. 4517, “no officer is allowed to demand or receive fees or other compensation for any service further than is expressly provided by law.” The fees of district attorneys are enumerated and specified in sec. 4542. In the schedule contained in this section there is no fee specified for services in cases stricken from the docket and retired. In sec. 5193, which provides for retiring cases, there is no specification of the costs intended thereby to be allowed against the State. They are described as “such costs as the State is bound to pay in case of nolle prosequi or acquittal of the defendant.” Whatever costs, therefore, the State is bound to pay in case of nolle prosequi or acquittal, are expressly provided
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.