Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

70 Ky. 154

Smith v. Cochran

Court of Appeals of Kentucky

Decided June 20, 1870

Court of Appeals of Kentucky · decided 1870-06-20

<p>1. Usurpation of the office of commissioner of the Louisville Chancery Court. — All appointment to the office of commissioner of the Louisville Chancery Court when there was no vacancy in said office was ultra-judicial and void.</p> <p>2. Such appointment being a legal nullity, it can not require reversal, or present any obstruction to an action for usurpation of office against such appointee.</p> <p>4. The Jefferson Court of Common Pleas has jurisdiction of a proceeding for the usurpation of his office, by the commissioner of the Louisville Chancery Court, against one who was improperly appointed to his said office when it was not vacant.</p>

Decided 1870-06-20

JUDGE ROBERTSON

¶1deritered the opinion of the court.

¶2This action was brought by Thomas P. Smith against Robert Cochran for alleged usurpation of the office of commissioner of the Louisville Chancery Court.

¶3The court of common pleas dismissed the petition for supposed want of jurisdiction, on the ground that the appointment of Robert Cochran by the chancellor was a judicial act which until reversed is authoritative and conclusive collaterally.

¶4We, do not concur with the court below. If, as just adjudged, there was no vacancy, the chancellor had no jurisdiction to appoint Robert Cochran. The appointment was therefore Wiro-judicial, and void; and such a legal nullity can not require reversal, or present any obstruction to this action.

¶5Wherefore the judgment of dismissal is reversed, and the case remanded for further proceedings.

/70/ky/154 · .json · Public domain