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1 Utah 192

Ex parte Dixon

Utah Supreme Court

Decided January 15, 1875

Utah Supreme Court · decided 1875-01-15

<p>Summons of a -Justice, When Void. — A summons issued by a Justice of the Peace and accompanied by an order of arrest must be returnable immediately, otherwise the same is void, and the judgment entered thereon is void.</p> <p>Constable Cannot Serve Process Outside of his County. — A Constable has no authority to serve a summons and order of arrest beyond the limits of his countv.</p> <p>What Reviewable on Habeas Corpus. — One imprisoned under a void judgment can review the same in proceedings on haberos corpus.</p>

Relies on Ex parte McCullough · Howard v. People

Decided 1875-01-15

Emerson, J.,

¶1delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶2The return to the writ of habeas corpus does not controvert the facts stated in the petition. ’ From the petition and return, it appears that petitioner was arrested at Ogden, in the County of Weber, on an order of arrest made by a Justice of the Peace of Salt Lake City and County, endorsed on a summons issued by him on an indebtedness on a contract.

¶3The summons was issued aud the' order of arrest made oh the 10th day of January, 1875, and the summons was returnable on the 21st .day of the same month, and was served' by a constable of Salt Lake City. A judgment appears to have been rendered in the case, and an execution issued against the person of the petitioner. Being taken into- custody on that execution, she obtained from this Court the writ of habeas corpus to be relieved from that restraint.

¶4The proceedings above mentioned were insufficient to give the Justice of the Peace jurisdiction of the person of the petitioner. The judgment and execution are therefore void. A summons which is accompanied by an order of arrest is required to be returnable immediately. (Sec. 515, Practice Act.

¶5The constable had no authority to servé the summons and order of arrest beyond the limits of Salt Lake County. .

¶6*194Relief may be had by habeas corpus from imprisonment or restraint under a void judgment. (Hurd on Habeas Corpus, pp. 332, 344; Howard v. People, 3 Mich. 207; People v. Cassels, 5 Hill 167; Ex parte McCullough, 35 Cal. 97; Ex parte Large, 18 Wall 162).

¶7The proceedings, under which the petitioner is held, being void, she must be discharged. And it is so ordered.

McKean, C. J. and Boreman, J., concurred.
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