Brodie v. Fitzgerald ( 1892 )

Cockrill, C. J.

The case comes up on a motion to advance it on the docket for hearing out of its regular order, upon the suggestion that the public interest is involved. The -motion sets forth the following state of facts : “ Alexander ..Hager devised to Edward Fitzgerald, as bishop of the Catholic church, certain real property in the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, the rents and profits of which were to be used in •maintaining a hospital in said city. Soon thereafter Edward Fitzgerald obtained from the Pulaski chancery court -an injunction restraining John Brodie, as county clerk, from extending the taxes against said property, which consists of and is rented for store-houses and dwellings.”

According to the immemorial practice of this court, no case can be taken up out of its order on the calendar, even by consent, where private or local interests only are concerned, unless the statute has otherwise specified. It' is in- • cumbent upon the court to see to it that the unnecessary advancement of causes out of their order does no injustice to other litigants, the hearing of whose causes has already been delayed by the crowded state of the docket. Vaught v. Green, 51 Ark., 378. The fact that a case is of public importance or interest, or that the interest of many persons in many localities depend upon it, does not of itself entitle • the parties to have it heard-out of its order. To make it a question of public interest, within the meaning of the practice which gives preference to such cases, the administration, of public affairs—that is, the government—must in some way be involved. And then only the party representing the governmental interest can be heard to raise the question. In such a case the practice is to refuse to advance the cause unless it is made to appear that the unsettled condition of the question will embarrass the operation of the State government or of some one of the political subdivisions of the State. It is accordingly the practice to refuse to advance a contest about a county seat—which is always a matter of great public interest in the county where it arises— unless the controversy has left the question of the location of the seat of justice in doubt and makes it probable that confusion will arise in the administration of the law.

In the annexation of new territory to a city, the assumption of jurisdiction by the city over the new territory before-the right is finally settled might create confusion in all departments of the city government (Black v. Brinkley, 54 Ark., 372), and the case is advanced to prevent it.

Contested election cases have been advanced upon the theory that they involve the due administration of the law,, ¡because the people have the right to have the law enforced by those whom they have elected.

The only other class of cases to which the practice has been applied is such as involve the public revenue. Numerous cases under that head have been advanced. But the ¡reason upon which the practice is based limits it to cases in which it is made to appear that delay would materially embarrass the operation of the State or of a county or municipal government. The present case does not present that •state of things. For aught that appears, the property involved is a small part of the taxable property of the county and city, and the question presented affects the taxation of that property alone. It is not shown then that any department of the government will be in any wise embarrassed by the delay.

The motion is denied.