People v. Frederick

HERRICK, J.

The defendant, it appears, had been convicted ás a disorderly person, and that conviction being reversed, he was again prosecuted, as, it is claimed, upon the same facts, for the same charge. Upon, being arraigned before the magistrate, he objected to his jurisdiction, upon the ground that the magistrate appeared as attorney for the prosecution ■ in this matter'before another justice. It does not appear that the fact then claimed in the presence of the magistrate was denied, but the objection appears to have been passed upon as a question of law, and the objection overruled. It needs no citation of authorities to show that a magistrate who has once been attorney in a matter cannot act as a judge in the same matter. Section 46, Code Civil Proc., is but a re-enactment of the common law. And. in a matter which, if true, reflects so scandalously upon the administration of justice, the appellate court will not indulge in any presumptions to sustain a judgment where such an objection is made. The objection was made in open court. There was no-occasion for the defendant to give evidence to satisfy the magistrate-of the-fact. He knew whether it was true or false; and when the record is left in such a condition that the appellate court cannot tell whether the magistrate, overruled the objection as not true as a matter of fact, or whether he overruled it as not good in law, the court will not assume that it was for the latter reason. If not true in fact, it should be indicated on the record. And if any error is made by the appellate court, it is better to err on that side which will relieve the administration of the law from the stain that would be placed upon it by upholding a conviction pronounced by a magistrate who had been the prosecutor of the defendant upon the same charge before another tribunal. This conclusion renders it unnecessary to consider the other questions in the case.

Let the judgment be reversed. All concur.