20. Domina Regina v. Paty, 2 Salk. 503, 91 Eng.Rep.
431 (1705).
600
JUDGMENT, EXECUTION AND APPELLATE REVIEW
Cli. 30
jection of Evidence, Prejudicial Remarks on the Part of Counsel in the Opening and Cosing Arguments, Misdirection of the Jury, and the like, there was, prior to 1285, No Method of Review, except by Motion for New Trial, which Motion was made After Verdict and Before Judgment, before the Court En Bane, sitting at Westminster, of which Court the Trial. Judge was usually a member. This Court could grant or refuse a New Trial as a matter of discretion, the exercise of which was not Reviewable at Common Law.
The Writ of Error is usually brought by the Party or Parties against whom the Judgment was given; but it may be brought by a plaintiff to Reverse his own Judgment, if erroneous, in order to enable him to bring another action.21 But the defendant was not permitted to bring it contrary to his own agreement or that of his Attorney.22
In general, a Writ of Error was available for any Error or Defect in Substance that had not been Aided, Amended or Cured at Common Law, or by the effect of one or more of the Statutes of Amendments and Jeofails.23 Thus, the Entry of a Judgment in a Form inappropriate to the Specific Form of Action, constituted an Error of Law. And if the plaintiff brings an Action of Ejectment and omits the Allegation of Ouster, alleging only Title and Damages, such omission of a Substantive Allegation will be available on Writ of Error after Final Judgment.
And in this connection, it should be observed that there was some doubt as to whether a Judgment on Demurrer could be Reviewed as a part of the Common-Law Record, without taking an Exception. Speaking to this very point in Hamlin v. Reynolds 24
21. Johnson v. Jebb, 3 Burr 1772, 97 Eng.Rep. 1091 (1705).
22. Cates t West, 2 T.R. 183, 100 Eng.Rep. 90 (1787).
23. See Chapter 20, Aider and Amendment
24. 22 Dl. 207, 200 (1859).
Walker, 3., declared: “It is believed that no reported case can be found, either in Great Britain or this country, in which it has been held that it is necessary to Except to the Judgment on a Demurrer, to enable the Party to have the decision Reviewed in an Appellate Court. By the Ancient Practice it was the Final Judgment in the case, on the Count or Plea to which the Demurrer was interposed, and Leave to Amend or Plead Over was rarely if ever given. And the Judgment on Demurrer, by the Modern Practice, is Final, unless the Court in the exercise of its discretion permits an Amendment, or grants Leave to Plead Over. The Judgment on the Demurrer is as much a Part of the Record as any other Judgment that is rendered by the Court in the Cause. The Office of a Bill of Exceptions is to preserve that of Record, which otherwise would not Appear of Record. By the Practice of Courts of Common-Law Jurisdiction, the Evidence in a Cause, the Decisions of the Court in Admitting or Rejecting Evidence, Affidavits on Motions, and the Reasons Upon which Motions are Made, the Giving and Refusing Instructions, and Various Other Matters, do not Appear of Record, and are no part of it, unless embodied in a Bill of Exceptions, and by that means are made a part of the Record in the case. In the-decision of all such questions, the Judgment of the Court is not usually spread upon the Roll of its Proceedings. While Judgments by Default, on Demurrer, in cases of Nonsuit, Final Judgment on Verdict, etc., have by the practice at all periods, been so Entered and regarded as a Part of the Record. It would be improper practice, to embody a Judgment on a Demurrer in a Bill of Exceptions, as it would uselessly incumber the Record and unnecessarily add to the expense of litigation. The position that the Judgment on the Demurrer to the Second and Third Pleas in this case, was not Excepted to in the Court Below is-wholly untenable,”
Sec. 323
APPELLATE REVIEW
601
The Writ of Error: Coram Nobis
WHERE a Judgment was Erroneous in Point of Fact only, and Not in Point of Law, it could be reversed by the same Court, by Writ of Error Coram Nobis, or Quac Corant Nobis Resident, so called from its being founded on the Record and Process, which were
-stated in the Writ to remain in the Court of the Lord the King, before the King himself; as where the defendant, being under age, appeared by Attorney, or the plaintiff or defendant was a married woman, at the Commencement of the Suit, or died before Verdict, or Interlocutory Judgment; for Error in Fact was not the Error of the Judges, hence reversing it was not reversing their own Judgment.
BILLS OF EXCEPTIONS25
323. A Bill of Exceptions is a Statement of Objections or Exceptions taken by a Party to the Rulings of the Court on Points of Law, Signed by the Judge who made the Decision, and Sealed with the Seal of the Court. -
AS observed in the discusElon of the Writ
-of Error, Errors Apparent Upon the Face of the Common-Law Record, after Final Judgment, were Reviewable by Writ of Error. If the alleged Error was One Not Apparent Upon the Face of the Record, but consisted of an Error that occurred At the Trial, such
2~. In general on Appellate Review I y Bills of Exceptions, see:
Treatises: 2 Tidd, The Practice of the court of King’s Bench in Personal Actions c. XXXVII, Of Trials by the Country and their IncIdents, 785—791 (Philadelphia 1807); Mansel, A Treatise on the Law nnd Practice of Demurrer to Pleadings and Evidence, of Bills of Exception; Wager of Law; Issue and Trial by Itceord, &c. (London 1828); Stephen, A Treatise on the Principles of Pleading in Civil Actions, c. I, Of the Proceedings in an Action, from Its Commencement to its Termination, 120—121 (3d Am. ed. by Tyler, Washington, D. C.
1900); Gould, A Treatise on the Principles of
Pleading, Pt. II, Procedure, e. I, Procedure In Gen— oral, 111—112 (0th ed. by Will, Albany 1909); Martin, Civil Procedure at Common Law, c. xiv, Trial, Verdict, Judgment and Execution, 368 (St Paul 1905).
as the Improper Admission or Rejection of Evidence, Misdirection ofthe Jury, or Prejudicial Remarks on the Part of Counsel in Opening and Closing Arguments, and the like, prior to 1285, there was No Method of Review except by Motion for New Trial, which Motion, as we have seen, was made before the Court En Banc sitting at Westminster, of which Court the Trial Judge was frequently a member. This Court could grant or refuse to grant a New Trial in its discretion, the exercise of which at Common Law was not Reviewable. This Method of Review left the Aggrieved Party somewhat at the mercy of the Original Trial Judge, as he was usually a Part of the Reviewing Court En Banc, and it provided No Method for Review, after Judgment, of Errors which occurred At the Trial. Obviously, a New Method was needed by which such Errors could be incorporated into the Record.
The Origin of the Bifl of Exceptions
THE Method devised had its origin in that Great Remedial Statute of the Common Law, the Statute of Westminster II, 13 Edw. I, c. 31, 1 Statutes at Large 206 (1285), under which it was provided, in Substance, that where an Error occurred At the Trial, such as the Improper Admission of Evidence, the Aggrieved Party could allege an Exception; if the Exception was not allowed, he could reduce the Exception to Writing,26 have it Signed and Sealed by the Judge, and Attach it to the Record. This operation incorporated the alleged Errors into the Record and when the Writ of Error issued, not only those Errors Apparent Upon the Face of the Common-Law Record, if any, but also those Errors which occurred At the Trial, and which had now been incorporated by means
26. The time for reducing the exception to writing was not prescribed by the statute, but it was held in the case of Wright -r. Sharp, 1 Salk. 288, 250, 91 Eng. Rep. 255, 258 (1705), that reason required the substance of the exception be reduced to writing when taken and disallowed.
602
JUDGMENT, EXECUTION AND APPELLATE REVIEW
Ch. 30
of the force and effect of Chapter 31 of the Statute of Westminster U, also went up to the Appellate Court for Review. And thus the explanation of the distinction between Matters on the Record, and Matters in the Record, or, as sometimes otherwise expressed, between Matter of Record and Matter of Exception, Matter of Record consisting of Errors Apparent Upon the Face of the Strict Common-Law Record; Matter of Exception referring to those Errors placed in the Record by the Bill of Exceptions.
STATUS UNDER MODERN CODES, PRACTICE ACTS AND RIfLES
OF COURT
324. Review is now generally by Appeal, which is a Statutory Proceeding. Where the Action is Legal in Nature, the Appeal is generally limited to a Review of Questions of Law.
Where the Action is Equitable in Nature, Questions of both Law and Fact are Reviewed on
Appeal, as was traditionally the case in Equity.
In 1848 the New York Code of Civil Procedure made an Appeal the only Form of Review in that State. Other States abolished the Writ of Error, but created a System of Review which included a Review of Legal Causes by Proceedings in Error, and for Equitable Causes Review on the lines of the Appeal in Chancery.2~ An Appeal in New York was at that time regarded as a New Action.2° In those States which did not adopt the New York Statutory Appeal, an Appeal in the Nature of a Writ of Error was adopted, including Alabama in 1853, Connecticut in 1882 and 1889, and Pennsylvania in 1889.20 The Method of Appeal in New York, being entirely Statutory, it was available only in the situations specifically provided for by the
27. Pound, Appellate Procedure in Civil Cases, c. IV, Appellate Procedure in the United States to the End of the Nineteenth Century, 260 (Boston 1941).
15. Pratt v. AlIen, 19 How.Pr. 450. 456 (1858).
19. Pound, Appellate Procedure in Civil Cases, c. XV, Appellate Procedure in the United States to the End of the NIneteenth Century, 261 (Boston 1941).
Code. In States where there was a Concurrence of Review by a Writ of Error and an Appeal in the Nature of Error, the term “Appeal” began to be regarded as covering both Types of Review. This gradual merger of the two principal Modes of Review was a byproduct flowing from the introduction of Equitable Defenses and Equitable Relief in Actions at Law. -
In the States today, Review on Appeal is generally a Statutory Proceeding, with more of the characteristics of the Common-Law Writ of Error, rather than the Appeal in Equity, by which the whole cause was removed from a lower to an Appellate Court, and
there tried tie novo without reference to the
conclusions of the Inferior Court. The Modern Appeal is more in the nature of a Writ of Error, in that the Appellate Court does not try the cause afresh or hear evidence. It is regarded as a continuation of the Original Litigation.
In an attempt to modernize and simplify Appellate Review in the Federal Courts, even before the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure were adopted, Congress, in 1928, abolished the Writ of Error in all cases, Civil and Criminal, except in cases coming from State Courts, and substituted the Modern Appeal as the Vehicle for Ordinary Appellate Review.30 The effect of this Legislation was to make Uniform the Procedure for Review in both Law and Equity, since prior to 1928 the Appeal, and not the Writ of Error, was the Method of Review from a Decree in Equity.3’
However, this Legislation did not remove the differences that had theretofore existed
30. Act of January 31, 1928 e. 14, as amended by
Act of April 26, 1928, c. 440. The wisdom of this
enactment has been iiuestioned, see, The Supreme
Court Under the Judiciary Act of jg~, 42 flarv.L.
Rev. 1, at 27—29 (1928).
$1. Robertson and Kirltham, Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the United States, 806 (New York, 1951).
Sec. 324
APPELLATE REVIEW
603
with respect to the Scope of Review for Actions at Law and in Equity. Perhaps the most significant difference was that Appeals from Judgments of Law Courts continued to be limited to Review of Questions of Law only, whereas an Appeal from an Equitable Decree permitted Review of the Facts as well as the Law.32
Today, the basic Federal Judicial Structure is composed of District Courts,33 Courts of Appeals ~<‘ and the Supreme Court.35 The District Courts “are the Trial Courts of the System” and exist in each of the numerous Judicial Districts established by Statute.36 Decisions of the District Court are Appeal
35. Marker, Federal Appellate Jurisdiction and ProCetiure, 272—270 (Chicago 3935).
33. Sections 81—132, 3331—1359, Title 28 U.S.C.A.
U- Sections 41—48, 1201—12.94, Title 28 U.S.C.A.
35- Seeiions 1—40, 1251—3257, Title 28 JJ.S.C..A. There arc, of course, other Federal Courts such as, for example, the Court of Claims (Sections 171—175, Title 28 TJ.S.C.A.), the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals (Sections 211—216, Title 28 U.S.C.A.), the Customs Court (Sections 251—255, Title 28 U.S.CA.). The “Tax Court of the United States” is strictly speaking, not a Court but rather “an independent agenc-y in the Executive Branch of the Government”, l4unn, .lurisdietion and l’ractice of the Courts of the United States, 33 (St. Paul, 1949).
36. Bunn, Jurisdiction and Practice of the Courts of the United States, 31 (St. Paul, 1949); See Sections 81—131, Title 28 U.S.C.A., for enumeration and location of these Judicial Districts.
able as of Right to the Court of Appeals, “except where a Direct Review may be had in the Supreme Court.” ~ The distinction between Appeals in Actions which are Legal in Nature, and those which are Equitable in Nature, is maintained, with the Appellate Court reviewing Questions of Law as to the Former and both Law and Fact as to the Latter,33 except that the Appellate Court also reviews Questions of both Law and Fact in Actions which are Legal in Nature when the Action is tried by a Court without a Jury.39 In Actions which are Equitable in Nature, and those which are Legal in Nature and tried by a Court without a Jury, the Findings of Fact of the Trial Court may, however, be set aside by the Appellate Court only when they are dearly erroneous, and provided due regard is given to the opportunity of the Trial Court to judge the credibility of witnesses.4°
37. Section 1291, Title 28 U.SC.A. This section by its terms refers only to “flnal” decisions of the District court; however, the following sectIon, 1292, permits Appeals also from certain interlocutory decisions.
33. Burns Bros. v. Cools Coal Co., (3d Cir. 1930) 42 F.2d 109; See 6 Ohllnger, Jurisdiction and Procedure of the Courts of the United States in Civil Actions, 590 (cincinnati, 1954).
39. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52(a), Title 28 U.S.C-A. -
40. Ibid.
TABLE OF CASES
References are to Pages
Abbott v. Kimball, 201
Abe Lincoln Mut. Life & Accident
Aber V. Bratton, 267
Abererombic v. parkburst, 268
Abington v. Lipscombe, 222
Abrahams V. Sones, 576
Aeerro v. Pctrone, 113
Ackcrson v. Eric Ri’. Co., 104
Acme Food Co. v. Older, 345
Acton V. Simonds, 355
Acton v. Symon, 320
Adair v. Loft, 233
Adair’s Adm’r v. Rogers’ Adnfr, 361
Adam v. Arnold, 304
Adams v. Abram, 598
Adams v. Adams, 503
Adams v. Barry, 129
Adams v. Clark, 221
Adams v. Columbian Steamboat Co., 357
Adams v. Crosby, 342
Adams v. Cross, 117
Adams v. Filer, 515
Adams v. Freeman, 168
Adams v. Gardner, 129
Adams v. Bemmenway, 154, 166, 176, 177
Adams v. Munter, 578
Adams v. O’Connor, 161, 830
Adams v. Richardson, 201
Adams v. Wiggin, 421
Adams v. Wood, 268
Adamson v. Jarvis, 189
Addams v. Tutton, 305
Addington v. Allen, 575
Addison v. Overend, 421
Adler v. Prcstwood, 246
Admiralty Com’rs v. The Amcrika, 165
Aetna Ins. Co. v. phelps, 331
Aetna Life Ins. Co. v. Hoppin, 242
Ahitbol v. Benneditto, 113, 114
Ainslie v. Martin, 413
Ainsworth v. Partillo, 219
Aireton v. Davis, 201
Akerley v. Halnes. 161, 165. 192
Alabama Consol. Coal & Iron Co. v. Heald, 561
Alabama Fuel & Iron Co. v. Bush, 94
Albert v. Seilcr, 570 -
AllAn v. Talbot, 98
Alderman v. Way, 159
Alderson V. Ennor, 352
AMine Mfg. Co. v, Barnard, 343, 358
Aleberry V. Walby, 333
Alex v. Shalala, 239
Alexander v. Capital Paint Co., 340
Alexander v. Shalala, 230
Alexander v. Vane, 351
Algeo v. Algco, 341, 359
Allen v. Colliery Engineer Co., 525
Allen v. Crary, 280
Allcn v. Ford, 358
Anderson v. Martlndale, 423
Anderson v. Talcott, 500
Anderson v. Todesco, 208
Andrew v. Deshler, 200
A
Soc. v. Miller, 348
Allen v. Gray, 108
Allen v. Hartfield, 330
Allen v. Lucket, 425
Allen v. McKibbin, 342, 359
Allen v. Oppenheimer, 200
Allen v. Patterson, 12, 22, 90, 299, 300
Allen v. Scott, 7, 520, 521
Allen v. Smith, 213, 285
Allen v. Taylor, 113
Allen v. Player, 160
Allen v. Tnscarora Val, Ry. Co., 526, 559
Allen V. Watt, 420
Allen Clark Co. v. Praneovich, 94
Allied Amusement v. Glover, 309
Allis-Chalmers Mfg. Co. v. City of ChIcago, 561
Almada V. Vandecar, 263
Almond v. Bonnell, 118, 238
Almy V. Rarris, 201, 297
Alsope V. Sytwell, 137
Altes v. thnckler, 208
Ambler v. Whipple, 505
Ambrose v. Roe, 364
American lIsp. Co. v. haggard, 428
American Trading & Storage Co. v. Gottstein, 399
Amburst v. Sky,mer, 146
Amory V. Flyn, 209
Amos v. Cosby, 308
Anderson v. Boneman, 267
Anderson v. Courtrigbt, 235
Anderson v. Hapler, 257
Anderson v. Lewis, 418
Koffler & Reppy Com.Law PIdg. KB
605
Androseoggin Water Power Co. v. Metcalf, 358
Andrus v. Waring, 525, 528
Anheuser~Busch Brewing Ass’n v. Bond, 398
Anniston Electric & Gas Co. v. Rosen, 147
Anonymous, 162, 191, 260, 278, 280, 290, 334, 454, 455, 471, 490, 555
Aasorge v. Kane, 407
Anthony v. Wilson, 503
Applebee V. Rumery, 180
Appleby v. Brown, 311, 312
Appleton v. Barrett, 268
Appo V. The People, 597
Arasmith V. Temple, 165, 193
Archer v. C]aflin, 120
Archibald v. Argall, 420
Arden V. Pullen, 357
Arizona Commercial Mining
Co., 105, 208, 352
Arlett v. Ellis, 441
Anus v. Ashley, 351
Armstrong v. Cooley, ISO
Armstrong v. Webster, 149, 476
Arnold v. Dodson, 352
Arnold v. Foot, 179
Arnold v. Jefferson, 213
Arthur v. Griswold, 194
Arthur v. Ingels, 251
Arthur v. Richards, 387
Ashley v. Root, 187
Aslin V. Parbin, 240
Atkins v. Barnstal,le County, 359
Atkins v. Byrnes, 499
Atkins v. Lewis, 233
Atkinson v. Baker, 200, 247
Atkinson v. Bell, 288, 358
Atkinson v. Scott, 351
Atlanta & W. P. R. Co. v. Jacobs’ Pharmacy Co., 331
Atlantic Mut. Fire Ins. Co. V. Young, 332
Atlantic Refining Co. v. Feinberg, 254
Atlas Shoe Co. v. Beehard, 212, 218
Atlee v. Baclthouse, 352
Attersoll v, Steve,]s, 189
Attorney General v. Meller, 122, 123
Atwood v. Davis, 431
Atwood v. Lucas, 344
Aubery V. James, 445
Auburn & Dwasco Canal Co., The v. Lelteb, 400, 403, 404, 477
Auditor v. Woodruff, 880, 598
Augusta, City of v. Moulton, 514
Aurora Trust & Savings Bank v. Whildln, 478
Austen V. Gervas, 133
Austin v. Dills, 126
Austin v. Jervoyse, 133
Avery v. Inhabitants of Tyringham, 324, 573
Avery v. Spieer. 171, 172
Axford v. Mathews, 214
Aycr v. Bartlett, 157, 183
Ayes v. Hewett, 266
Ayliff V. Arehdale, 321
Azparren v. Ferrel, 257, 263
B
Baals v. Stewart, 212
Babb v. Mackey, 201
Babcock v. Trice, 516
Bach v. Owen, 329
Bacon v. Davis, 267
Bacon v. Sehepflin, 420, 429
Backus v. Clark, 110
Badger v. Batavia Paper Mfg. Cc., 219
Badkin v. Powell, 486
Badlam v. Tucker, 213
Bagagiio v. Paolino, 319
Bailey v. Adams, 218
Bailey v. Bussing, 326
Bailey v. Clay, 329, 331
Bailey v. Cowles, 501
Bailey v. Ellis, 262
Bailey v. Freeman, 326
Bailey v. Valley Nat. Bank, 513
Baillie v. Columbia Gold Mm. Co., 77
Bain v. Hunt, 361
Baker v. Bailey, 445
Baker v. Beers, 222
Baker v. Blackman, 441
Baker v. Corey, 340
Baker v. Dumbolton, 97
Baker v. Fales, 264, 266, 267
Baker v. Faweett, 516
Baker v. Fuller, 330
Baker v. Howell, 215
Baker V. Jameson, 325
Baker v. KIng, 160
Baker v. Lauterbaeh, 343
Baker v. Lothrop, 221
Baker v. Morphew, 198
Balcom V. Craggin, 327
Baldridgc v. Allen, 167
Baldwin v. City of Aberdeen, 403
Baldwin v. Cole, 219, 221
Baldwin v. Whittier, 169
Ball v. Fatterson, 216
Ballance v. Flood, 233
Ballou v, O’Brien, 268
Baltimore & 0. B. Co. v. PoIljç Woods & Co., 340, 471
TABLE OF CASES
References are to Pages
606
Andrews v. Allen, 312
Andre~vs v. C-allenth’r, 320
.Aaidrews V. Hoeslich, 267
Andrew’s v. Ives, 321
Andrews v. Montgomery, 361
Andrew’s v. Morris, 125
Andrew’s v. Thayer, 108
Andrews v. Whiteliend, 111, 132, 136, 327
Andrews V. Williams, 126
Andros v. Childors, 376
Co. v. Iron Cap Copper
Baltimore & 0. & C. B. Co. v. flUnols CenC~ K Cc., 490
Bane v. Detrick, 221
Banik v. Bishop-Stoddard Cafeteria Co., 336
Bank of Bristol V. Ashworth, 411
Bank of Buffalo v. Crouch, 264
Bank of Columbia v. Hagner, 330, 340
Bank of New Brunswick v. Arrowsmitb, 72
Bank of New South Wales v. O’Connor, 251
Bank of Orange County V. Brown, 188
Bank of United Stotes v. Smith, 541
Banks v. Whetstone, 247
Bannister v. Read, 341, 342
Bannister v. Victoria Coal & Coke Co., 324, 364
Banorgee v. Hovey, 320, 321
Banyer V. Empie, 235
Barber v, Chester County, 276
Barber v. Rose, 516
Barber v. Summers, 145
Barber v. Vincent, 397
Barbour v. Breckenridge, 505
Barhour’s Adm’rs v. Areher~ 126
‘Barclay v. Howell, 238
Barkeloo v. Randall, 168
Barker v. Braharn, 168
Barker v. Chase, 161
Barker v. Justice, 559
Barker v. Lade, 126, 127
Bark-er v, Miller, 213
Barkhamstcd, Town of v. Parsons, 297
Barley v. Roosa, 115
Barlow v. Garrow, 576
Barnard V. Duthy, 332
Barnard v. Poor, 180
Barnes V. Bartlett, 265
Barnes v. Brookman, 575, 576
Barnes v. Cole & Fitzhugh, 178
Barnes v. ford, 165, 193
Barnes r. Jcenyon, 105
Barnes v. Northern Trust Co., 144
Barnett v. Barnett, 400
Barnett v. Phelps, 198
Barney V. Dewey, 189
Barnitz V. Casey, 235
Barnum V. Landon, 311, 312, 316
Barnum v. Martin, 187
Barnum s’. Stone, 209, 219
Barr V. Craig, 352
Barrett V. Carden, 294, 295
Barrett V. Douglas Park Bldg. Ass’n, 285
Barrett v. McAllister, 510
Barrons v. Ball, 199
Barrow V. Burbridge, 555
Barry V. Peterson, 154, 166, 176, 177
Bartholomew v. Jackson, 319
Bartlett V. Perkins, 159, 190
Bartlett V. Prescott, 480
Barton v. Dunning, 212
Barton v. Webb, 134
Barwjck v. Barwlck, 213
Bascom V. Dempsey, 157
Basset V. Maynard, 210
Bateman V. Allen, 122
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