Cook v. . Moore , 100 N.C. 294 ( 1888 )

The plaintiff moved at the present term to strike from the records of this Court an entry made by mistake, as suggested, that purports to be a judgment in its nature final here in this case, granted at October Term of 1886, affirming the judgment of the court below, and to enter of record nunc pro tunc the judgment (295) reversing that judgment which the court had determined upon and intended to enter but failed by inadvertence so to do.

It is not contended that this Court can reverse, set aside, or modify in any material respect a regular, final judgment at a term thereof subsequent to that at which it was entered. It is clear and well settled that it has no such authority, except upon an application to rehear or because of "mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect," as may be allowed by statute. Murphy v. Merritt, 63 N.C. 502; Mabry v. Erwin,78 N.C. 45; Moore v. Hinnant, 90 N.C. 163, and cases there cited;Sebbald v. United States, 12 Pet., 488; Bank v. Moss, 6 How., 31;Bronson v. Schulten, 104 U.S. 410.

It is just as well settled, however, that the Court has authority upon application, or ex mero motu, at all times in term, and it is its duty to amend and correct its records so as to make them speak the truth and be consistent, and to make proper entries nunc pro tunc that were certainly intended but omitted to be made by mistake, accident, or inadvertence of the Court. Such authority is essential. Courts are not infallible; they, like all other earthly tribunals, are liable to make mistakes of fact that cannot be corrected in the ordinary course of procedure, and it would contravene every principle of reason and justice if they could not in some way correct them. The law contemplates that each court can itself the better, the more certainly and accurately correct such its own mistakes than another court, whether appellate or not. But such power should be exercised with great care and caution, and only upon clear and satisfactory proof, because, when entries are made in the course of the business of the court, they are presumed to have been made upon careful consideration and to be correct; and, moreover, they import absolute verity while they are allowed to remain. Farmer v. Willard, 75 N.C. 401; Wall v. Covington, 83 N.C. 144; Scott (296) v. Queen, 95 N.C. 340; Strickland v. Strickland, 95 N.C. 471; Brooks v. Stephens, post, 297; Matherson v. Grant, 2 How., 263;Sheppard v. Wilson, 6 How., 260; 2 Tidd's Pr., 932; 1 Will. on Exrs., 762, 763; 3 Chit. Gen. Pr., 101.

The mere entry in writing on the minutes of the proceedings of the court from which the record is made up when need be does not itself constitute the judgment; it is only evidence of it, and imports verity while it remains. But the judgment is the conclusion of the law, as determined and applied by the court to the case before it, and it remains in the mind of the court until it shall be truly entered of record. When the conclusion of the law in a case is thus reached the court cannot, after the term at which it was entered, interfere with it. At the end of the term it passes beyond the control of the court. But the entry of record must embody and be what the court determined, decided, and what it intended should be so entered; otherwise, the judgment will not have been entered of record, and the court may, at a subsequent term, enter it correctly nunc pro tunc. The court cannot, at a subsequent term, amend, modify, or interfere with a regular judgment regularly entered of record at a preceding term; it can correct, amend, or modify such a one improperly entered or enter one which through accident, mistake of fact or inadvertence of the court was not properly entered or not entered at the former term, when the court intended to enter and ought to have entered it.

In the case before us it is manifest from the opinion of the court filed, prepared by the late Justice Ashe, that the Court had determined, and it was its mind and purpose, to reverse the judgment of the court below and grant a new trial, and to enter judgment accordingly. It also so appears from the memorandum made by the Court at the time the case was decided in conference of the Judges. The order of affirmance, made at the foot of the opinion, was a clear inadvertence of the Court, and cannot be allowed to prejudice the plaintiff. Through such (297) inadvertence of the Court its judgment was not entered, and it must be now.

The motion must be allowed, and it must be declared that there is error. The judgment of the court below must be reversed and further proceedings had in the action there, according to law. To that end the clerk will certify this opinion, and the opinion of the Court as delivered heretofore, except the memorandum at the foot thereof, to the Superior Court, and direct the clerk of the latter court to return to the office of the clerk of this Court the certificate purporting to be the certificate of the judgment of this Court.

It is so ordered.

Cited: S. v. Farrar, 104 N.C. 703; S. v. Willis, 106 N.C. 804;Summerlin v. Cowles, 107 N.C. 441; Scroggs v. Stevenson, 108 N.C. 262;Solomon v. Bates, 108 N.C. 322; Bernhardt v. Brown, ibid., 711; James v.R. R., 123 N.C. 306; Board of Education v. Henderson, 127 N.C. 9; S. v.Marsh, 134 N.C. 187; Durham v. Cotton Mills, 144 N.C. 714; Nelson v.Hunter, 145 N.C. 337; Mann v. Mann, 176 N.C. 370.