Mannino v. Moffett ( 1932 )

This is an appeal from the action of the Supreme Court in refusing to allow the appellant a rule to show cause why a writ of mandamus should not issue to compel the building inspector of the town of Westfield to issue a building permit for the erection of an addition to a garage on premises of the appellant.

The respondent moves to dismiss the appeal on the ground that the refusal of a rule to show cause why a writ of mandamus should not issue is not appealable.

It has been repeatedly held that no appeal will lie from the refusal of the Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus.Layton v. State, 28 N.J.L. 575; American TransportationCo. v. New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad Co., 59Id. 156; Paterson v. Shields, Ibid. 426; Kenny v.Hudspeth, Ibid. 504, 527; Morris and Cummings Dredging Co. v.Bayonne, 76 Id. 573; Matlack v. Lloyd, 82 Id. 739;Browne v. King, 91 Id. 317; Trinkle v. Donnelly, 98Id. 298.

In School District of Neptune Township v. Mannion,73 N.J.L. 816, it was said by this court:

"The refusal by the Supreme Court of a mandamus and its discharging a rule to show cause why a mandamus should not issue, is not reviewable on error (Layton v. State, 4Dutch. 575; American Transportation Co. v. New York,Susquehanna and Western Railroad Co., 30 Vr. 156; Paterson v. Shields, Ibid. 426), except in cases covered by the amendment to the Mandamus act, which is to be found in its original form in 2 Gen. Stat., p. 2002, ¶ 13, and which is produced in a condensed form in section 6 of the Mandamus act of 1903. Pamph. L. 1903, p. 381. Those cases in which a review by writ of error is granted are limited by the terms of the amendment to cases decided in the Supreme Court upon the constitutionality of a statute."

The appellant contends that these cases apply only to the allowance of the writ of mandamus itself and not to the allowance of a rule to show cause. No authority is cited for this proposition and we are unable to see any distinction in this respect between the refusal of a rule to show cause and the discharge of a rule previously allowed. Both actions rests within the sound discretion of the Supreme Court.

No question was raised in the Supreme Court concerning the constitutionality of any statute or ordinance and the instant case does not, therefore, come within the provision of theMandamus act.

We conclude that the action of the Supreme Court in refusing the rule to show cause was not appealable, and that the appeal should be dismissed, with costs.