People v. Hopt
People v. Hopt
Opinion of the Court
These several motions which have been submitted to the court, raising the same questions that have been raised by the voluntary appearance of so many members of the bar, have been submitted to the court from time to time, while it was in the midst of other business, and without giving to the
The court unanimously adheres to its opinion heretofore given as to the power of this court in the present state of the case. The discussion this afternoon has been participated in by many respectable members of the bar, men who, of course, had no earthly interest in the case, excepting that interest that is spontaneous with all members of the bar who are loyal to the law, and loyal to their profession, and whose only desire is that all the proceedings of the court shall be according to the law. This discussion has evidenced their earnestness, and their great desire that the court should commit no error in a case of this importance. The case is important, not only by reason of the gravity of the offense- and the effect of the execution, if carried out, but it is important in another sense: no case of the kind has ever arisen, no case of the kind can arise in any other territory than this; there is no other territory in which an appeal is given in this class of cases to the supreme court of the United States, and hence, we have no precedent to govern us at all, and we have had to judge of it in accordance with our notions of the law, and in the manner I have suggested. The court is very anxious as to what the effect would be, if it should grant a stay of the execution, by exercising a doubtful power upon its part, and we have come to the conclusion unanimously, as I said before, to adhere to our former decision in the matter; but the court unites unanimously in recommending to the governor that he grant a reprieve. There is no question about his power; there is no question, then, but that the sentence and judgment remain until re
We of course feel obliged to the members of the bar; for what they volunteered to do is simply a demonstration to us of what we have known before, that they were loyal to their ideas of the law; they have been candid in expressing their opinions, and have expressed them in such a manner that it has made the question at least debatable, and we have thought it better all around to suggest executive action, especially in view of the position taken by the district attorney himself, as the members of the bar will recollect, in stating that it was his request or his wish — at least, I think he said his wish or his willingness' — that the executive clemency should be used in that way, in view of the earnest discussion that has been raised in relation to the case. We think we have done what it is our duty to do, and it commends itself to our consciences.
Stay of execution denied.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- PEOPLE v. HOPT
- Status
- Published