UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON-LINE

YEATON V. LENOX, 32 U. S. 220 (1833)

32 U. S. 220

U.S. Supreme Court

Yeaton v. Lenox, 32 U.S. 7 Pet. 220 220 (1833)

Yeaton v. Lenox

32 U.S. (7 Pet.) 220

APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

FOR THE COUNTY OF ALEXANDRIA IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Syllabus

Motion to dismiss an appeal. A decree was pronounced by the District Court of the United States for the District of Alexandria in December, 1829, from which the defendants appealed, but did not bring up the record. At January term, 1832, the appellees, in pursuance of the rule of court, brought up the record and filed it, and on motion of their counsel the appeal was dismissed. On 9 March, 1832, a citation was signed by the chief justice of the court for the District of Columbia citing the plaintiffs in the original action to appear before the Supreme Court, then in session, and show cause why the decree of the circuit court should not be corrected. A copy of the record was returned with the citation "executed" and filed with the clerk. By the Court. "The record is brought up irregularly, and the case must be dismissed."

The act of March, 1803, which gives the appeal from decrees in chancery, subjects it to the rules and regulations which govern writs of error. Under this act, it has been always held that an appeal may be prayed in court when the decree is pronounced. But if the appeal be prayed after the court has risen, the party must proceed in the same manner as had been previously directed in writs of error.

The Judicial Act directs that a writ of error must be allowed by a judge, and that the citation shall be returned with the record, the adverse party to have at least twenty days' notice. This notice, the Court understands, is twenty days before the return day of the writ.

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE MARSHALL delivered the opinion of the Court. clubjuris

Page 32 U. S. 221

In this case, a decree was pronounced by the Court of the United States for the County of Alexandria in December, 1829, from which the defendants in that court appealed, but did not bring up the record. At January term, 1832, the appellees, in pursuance of a rule of this Court, brought in the record, filed it, and moved that the suit should be dismissed. The court ordered a dismissal. On 9 March, 1832, a citation was signed by the Chief Justice of the court for the District of Columbia, citing the plaintiffs in the original action to appear before the Supreme Court, then in session, and show cause why the decree of the circuit court should not be corrected. A copy of the record was returned with this citation "executed," and filed with the clerk. The appellees move to dismiss the suit because the record has been irregularly brought up.

The Act of March, 1803, which gives the appeal from decrees in chancery, subjects it to the rules and regulations which govern writs of error. Under this act, it has been always held that a decree may be prayed in court when the decree is pronounced, but if the appeal be prayed after the court has risen, the party must proceed in the same manner as had been previously directed in writs of error. The Judiciary Act directs that a writ of error must be allowed by a judge, and that a citation shall be returned with the record, the adverse party having at least twenty days' notice. This notice, we understand, is twenty days before the return day of the writ of error. In this case, the appeal is not allowed by the judge, and the citation is to appear before the court then sitting. The record is brought up irregularly, and the cause must be

Dismissed.

On consideration of the rule granted in this cause and of the arguments of counsel, as well for the appellants as for the appellees, thereupon had, after mature deliberation, it is the opinion of this Court that the record is brought up irregularly, and that this appeal should be dismissed, whereupon it is ordered and decreed by this Court that the appeal be and the same is hereby dismissed with costs.


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