Lowrey v. Hogue

Paterson, J. A complaint was filed in one of the justices’ courts of the county of Fresno, charging the plaintiff with having committed the crime of battery. Prior to the time the case was set for trial, the plaintiff filed an affidavit, in which he set forth, that he could not have a fair and impartial trial by reason of the prejudice of the citizens of that township. The cause of such prejudice he alleged to be certain publications in the newspapers of the township with reference to the facts, or purported facts, of the case. A copy of the articles referred to was set forth in the affidavit. The justice denied the motion for a change of venue, the jury was impaneled, the defendant was convicted, and a judgment •was entered against him that he be confined in the county jail for the period of thirty days. The judgment imposed a further penalty of two hundred dollars fine, with the usual alternative of imprisonment in the county jail until the fine be paid, at the rate of one day for every dollar thereof.

This, is a proceeding to annul and set aside the judgment. It is claimed that, the judgment, is void for two [602]reasons: 1. Because the affidavit filed on motion for a change of venue ousted the justice’s court of jurisdiction, —that it was the imperative duty of the court to transfer the case to another township for trial; 2. Because the court had no authority to add to the fixed period of imprisonment the alternative of imprisonment for nonpayment of the fine imposed.

Section 1431 of the Penal Code provides that “if the action or proceeding is in a justice’s court, a change of the place of trial may be had at any time before the trial commences; .... 2. When it appears from affidavits that the defendant cannot have a fair and impartial trial, by reason of the prejudice of the citizens of the township, the cause must be transferred to a justice of a township where the same prejudice does not exist.” Under this provision, we do not think it was the imperative duty of the j ustice to transfer the case. In civil cases in j ustices’ courts the legislature has provided that the place of trial may be changed “ when either party makes and files an affidavit that he cannot have a fair and impartial trial on account of the bias or prejudice of the citizens of the township or city against him”; but in criminal cases the opinion of the defendant that he cannot have a fair and impartial trial is not sufficient. He must state the facts upon which he bases that opinion, and the court is then called upon to determine whether the reasons given support the conclusion. The justice is called upon to exercise his discretion. For any abuse of discretion the defendant has a speedy and adequate remedy by appeal to the superior court. If the justice has erred in this case we presume that the error will be corrected by the superior court. It is not a case of want of jurisdiction.