Lawrence v. Doublebower

Decided January 1, 1790

Supreme Court of the United States · decided 1790

THIS was an appeal from the decision of a Justice of the Peace in an action of trespass, brought before him against a Constable, for wrongfully taking the goods of the plaintiff; and in which judgment had been given for £9. 18. submitted the case to the Court, without argument, upon this single question, whether a Justice of the Peace has jurisdiction in actions of trespass, for taking goods ?

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently January 1884

2 state decisions

1 counsel of record

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1790

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¶1THIS was an appeal from the decision of a Justice of the Peace in an action of trespass, brought before him against a Constable, for wrongfully taking the goods of the plaintiff; and in which judgment had been given for £9. 18.

¶2Roberts, for the plaintiff, and Bradford, for the defendant,

¶3submitted the case to the Court, without argument, upon this single question, whether a Justice of the Peace has jurisdiction in actions of trespass, for taking goods ?

¶4Shippen, President:

¶5—Actions of Trover are expressly excepted from the jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace; and this being such a trespass, as might be made the foundation of an action of Trover, is fairly within the reason of the Legislative exception. The powers of the Justices of the Peace are, perhaps, already sufficiently great; but, at all events, it would be highly dangerous to extend them to cases like the present.