Banks v. State , 96 Ala. 41 ( 1892 )

THOBINGTON, J.'

This case presents tbe single question whether under tbe general and special statutes governing tbe trial of misdemeanors in the County Court of Marengo, and appeals therefrom to tbe Circuit Court, a solicitor’s fee may be taxed for tbe conviction in each court, where there is a conviction in tbe County Court, followed by an appeal to tbe Circuit Court, and a conviction in tbe latter court on such appeal.

Section 4868 of tbe Criminal Code prescribes tbe fee to be taxed in favor' of solicitors on conviction in criminal cases, and for tbe offense for which appellant was convicted in tbe County Court, and again on appeal to tbe Circuit Court, tbe fee is fixed at fifteen dollars. In tbe latter court a fee of fifteen dollars was taxed in favor of tbe solicitor for defendant’s conviction in each court, making two fees of fifteen dollars each for tbe solicitor in one case. Appellant made a motion in tbe Circuit Court to retax tbe costs by striking out one of tbe said fees taxed in favor of tbe solicitor, and, bis motion being denied by tbe Circuit Court, be reserved tbe question by bill of. exceptions and brings tbe case here by appeal.

By a general statute, approved February 23, 1883 (Code, § 4868), circuit solicitors are allowed the same fees for convictions in the County Courts as are allowed by law for like convictions in the Circuit Court, and it is further provided in express terms that solicitors shall receive but one fee in cases where the defendant is convicted in the County Court, and on appeal to the Circuit Court is “again convicted on the same charge.” By a special statute relating to Marengo county, likewise approved February 23, 1883, (Sess. Acts 1882-83, p. 647), the solicitor for the first judicial circuit is made the prosecuting officer for the County Court and his fees for convictions made the same, and directed to be taxed and collected in the same manner, as fees of circuit solicitors. In a proviso to the act the County Court judge is required, in the absence of the circuit solicitor, to appoint a solicitor, pro tempore, to prosecute misdemeanors in that court, and “the persons so appointed shall be entitled to, and shall receive the same fees as such circuit solicitor is entitled, to be taxed and collected in the same manner.”

In this case the conviction in the County Court was obtained by a solicitor pro tempore, appointed by the judge by virtue of this statute, and the conviction in the Circuit Court, on the appeal, was obtained by the circuit solicitor.

By the terms of the statute “ the law of costs must be deemed and held a penal law, and no fee must be taken but in cases expressly provided by law.” — Crim. Code, § 4892. Being penal, statutes allowing them are construed strictly; and, when not discretionary, the action of inferior courts on motions to retax costs is reviewable. — Dent & Magruder v. State, 42 Ala. 514. We observe nothing in the special act, above referred to, which changes the law governing solicitor’s fees as declared in the general act of February 23, 1883. On the contrary, the special act in terms provides that the solicitor’s fee for convictions in the County Court shall “be taxed and collected in the same manner as fees of circuit solicitors.” We understand this to mean that the fee is to be taxed for the entire case as it would had the circuit solicitor prosecuted the case in the County Court. The manner of taxing solicitors, fees for the entire case in proceedings of this kind is to tax but one /ee. The general law settles that, and the special act conforms to the general law in that respect; neither in express terms nor by necessary implication does the latter effect a change in the former on this subject. The fact that the solicitor, pro tempore, appointed by virtue of the special act, may in some cases lose the fee taxed to him on conviction in the County Court can not change the terms or construction of the statutes.

Tbe Circuit Court erred in overruling tbe motion of appellant to retax tbe costs. Its judgment is reversed, and a judgment will be rendered in this court retaxing tbe costs in conformity to tbe motion of appellant made in tbe Circuit Court, and for wbicb execution may issue, as directed by tbe judgment of conviction in said Circuit Court.

Reversed and rendered.