Stennett v. Pfeiffer
Stennett v. Pfeiffer
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
This case is before us on certified question under the provisions of Senate Bill No. 173, enacted by the Forty-third Legislature (Acts 1933, ch. 71), which purports to confer authority on District Courts to certify constitutional questions to Courts of Civil Appeals, and thence to the Supreme Court.
The certificate shows the status of the proceedings out of which it issued. The plaintiffs, Stennett and wife, instituted suit May 1, 1933, to restrain a trustee’s sale of real estate, advertised to be held on Tuesday, May 2, 1933, under a certain deed of trust. The averments of the defendants’ answer show that on May 28, 1930, plaintiffs, Stennett and wife, executed and delivered to the defendant Security Title & Trust Company a promissory note for $1,400.00, bearing interest at the rate of eight per cent per annum, the whole payable in installments of $20.00 per month; the entire unpaid balance, however, to be
It will be observed from the foregoing statement that the District Court has not entered any judgment dr decree from which an appeal has been taken to the Court of Civil Appeals. A restraining order had been issued, and the case was apparently in progress of being heard for the purpose of determining whether or not an injunctive or stay order should issue, but the court, being in doubt as .to the validity of the Act under which the right of stay was claimed, has suspended the proceed
It is obvious from this state of the record that the Court of Civil Appeals has no jurisdiction of the question certified, and that this Court is likewise without jurisdiction. Morrow v. Corbin, 122 Texas, 553, 62 S. W. (2d) 641; Republic v. Laughlin, Dallam’s Decisions, 412; Nash & Mabbit v. Republic, Dallam’s Decisions, 631. In the case of Morrow v. Corbin, this day decided, we have held unconstitutional and void Senate Bill No. 173 enacted by the Forty-third Legislature, in so far as the same is applicable to the facts in this case. On the authority of that case and the authorities cited, we have no jurisdiction of the certificate before us, and it is our duty under Rule 17, Rules of the Supreme Court, to dismiss the same. The certificate to the Court of Civil Appeals before us in the instant case is accordingly dismissed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- A. W. Stennett et ux. v. John P. Pfeiffer
- Status
- Published