People v. Town of Nevada

The opinion of the Court was delivered by Mr. Chief Justice Murray. Mr. Justice Terry concurred.

The only question involved in this case is, whether the Act of March 27, 1850, so far as it confers upon the County Court the power of incorporating town governments, is constitutional. The jurisdiction of the County Court has been so often reviewed, that this Court will not be deemed impatient in simply announcing certain principles already declared by its previous decisions. First, the performance of certain legislative functions being confided to, or imposed by the Constitution upon the Legislature, must be exercised by that branch of the government; and in such cases the maximum delegatus non potest delegare applies. Second, this Court has repeatedly refused, since the question was first raised, to incorporate any college or eleemosynary corporation, because the Legislature can impose no duties upon the judiciary but such as are of a judicial character; and the incorporation of colleges or towns is not stricti juris judicial, but ministerial; or rather, under our Constitution, a legislative act. (See Burgoyne v. The Supervisors, and Dickey v. Hulburt, 5 Cal. Repts.)

This is not a special case, contemplated by the Constitution. The words, “ special cases,” refer to suits or controversies at law, and not to proceedings of this character. Admitting that the Legislature can delegate the power, under general law, (a proposition which we neither affirm nor deny,) of establishing town governments, it must be to the supervisors, or some other person or body possessing like functions, and not to a Court which is inhibited from the performance of any other than judicial acts.

Judgment reversed.