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185 F. 219

Docket Nos. 690, 7,811.

In re Kyle

Massachusetts District Court

Decided December 22, 1910.)

Massachusetts District Court · decided 1910-12-22

<p>Coukts (§ 280*) — Appellate JmtrsnioTioK' — Betebmination.</p> <p>The determination of its own jurisdiction has generally been left to the appellate court itself, and the Circuit Court will not refuse to allow an appeal for want of jurisdiction thereof in the Circuit Court of Appeals.</p> <p>[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Courts, Cent. Dig. §§ 818-818; Deo, Dig. § 280.*]</p>

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently December 1942

2 federal appellate · 1 district ·

3 counsel of record

Relies on Huntington v. Saunders · In re Kyle

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Appeal allowed · Decided 1910-12-22

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

¶1Coukts (§ 280*) — Appellate JmtrsnioTioK' — Betebmination.

¶2The determination of its own jurisdiction has generally been left to the appellate court itself, and the Circuit Court will not refuse to allow an appeal for want of jurisdiction thereof in the Circuit Court of Appeals.

¶3[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Courts, Cent. Dig. §§ 818-818; Deo, Dig. § 280.*]

¶4In the matter of Elb ridge L. Sweetzer, bankrupt. Petition by War-ren Ozro Kyle and another to revise rulings of the District Court was *220dismissed, and they apply for allowance of appeal to the Circuit Court of appeals.

¶5Appeal allowed.

¶6See, also, 181 Fed. 617.

¶7Warren Ozro Kyle, pro se.

¶8Fred Joy, for petitioner Dowse.

¶9Hollis R. Bailey, for Hammond and others.

¶11LOWELL, Circuit Judge.

¶12These were proceedings under the bankruptcy act of 1867 (Act March 2, 1867, c. 176, 14 Stat. 517). The assignees filed a petition in this court to revise the rulings of the District Court, which held them liable to the bankrupt estate for certain sums of money. The court dismissed the assignees’ petition, and they have in due form sought the allowance of an appeal from this court to the Circuit Court of Appeals. The respondents object to the allowance of the appeal on the ground that, under the circumstances stated, no appeal lies from the Circuit Court to the Circuit Court of Appeals; the decision of the Circuit Court being final. The point of law involved in the decision of the District Court and of this court concerning the assignees’ liability to the bankrupt estate is important and doubtful. To prevail in their objection, the respondents must persuade- this court of two propositions:

¶13First, that the petitioners have no right to the appeal which they seek; second, that this, court, if so persuaded, should refuse to allow the appeal.

¶141. If this court was to pass generally upon the petitioners’ right of appeal, it would probably decide that none exists. The Court of Appeals for this circuit appears to have held thus in Huntington v. Saunders, 72 Fed. 10, 18 C. C. A. 409. That the decision in Huntington v. Saunders is against them in' the case at bar the petitioners do not seriously dispute, but they suggest that the decision has been in effect overruled by later decisions of the Supreme Court. I am unable to find any conflict between these cases and Huntington v. Saunders. If the question was before the court under ordinary conditions, I .should hold that the petitioners had no right to an appeal.

¶152. To refuse allowance, this court must be persuaded, not only that the Circuit Court of Appeals is without jurisdiction of this appeal, but also that the Circuit Court should pass upon the limits of that jurisdiction. No case has been cited in argument where this court has refused to allow an appeal for want of jurisdiction thereof in the Circuit Court of Appeals. Generally, at least, the delimitation of its own jurisdiction has been left to the appellate court itself, and, under ordinary conditions, there it belongs. Convenience makes for this practice. If an appeal is allowed where the appellate court is without jurisdiction thereof, the respondent may move the appellate court to dismiss the appeal for want of jurisdiction. If, on the other hand, the appeal is denied where it should have been allowed, the appellant must seek a writ of mandamus from the appellate court directing the *221allowance. The former proceeding is the less cumbrous method of deciding the question raised.

¶16Without holding that the rule above stated is of universal application, I hold that in the case at bar the appeal should be allowed.

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