Thomas v. State , 215 Ala. 1 ( 1926 )

Pursuant to section 7311 of the Code, the Judges of the Court of Appeals have referred to this court the following questions:

"The petitioner in this case files his petition for writ of habeas corpus, under chapter 151 of the Code of 1923, and, from an order denying the relief sought, he appeals to this court.

"Upon the general proposition that the remedy by appeal is purely statutory, that the order in a habeas corpus proceeding, under chapter 151 of the Code, was not a final judgment or decree of a court, but is an order or judgment of the judge hearing the petition, and that chapter 151 of the Code, supra, is both exclusive and inclusive, this court held in Ex parte State re Shirley, 20 Ala. App. 473, 103 So. 68, that an appeal did not lie from an order of the circuit judge in habeas corpus, except as is provided in section 3238 of the Code of 1923. The decision in the Shirley Case, supra, has since been followed by this court.

"Subsequent to the decision in the Shirley Case, Mr. Justice Miller in McCarter v. City of Florence, 213 Ala. 367,104 So. 806, 807, recognizes the limitations in appeals incident to the omissions and changes in section 6245 of the Code of 1907, as revised by the Code commission, and now appearing as section 3238 of the Code of 1923, but justifies the appeal under section 6114 of the Code of 1923, applicable alone to judgments, orders, or decree of the judge of probate. Since that decision, Mr. Justice Thomas in Tillman v. Walters,214 Ala. 71, 108 So. 62, has written a very exhaustive and able opinion demonstrating that, in proceedings for the custody of children, chapter 151 of the Code of 1923 has no application, and that an appeal in such proceedings is provided for, as in judgments in civil cases. Concurring in the conclusion reached by Justice Thomas, the majority simply hold that: 'The right of appeal exists under section 6078 of the Code of 1923.'

"Under the statute we therefore propound the following inquiries:

"(a) Is an adjudication in habeas corpus proceedings a final judgment or decree of the circuit court, where the writ is issued in pursuance to chapter 151 of the Code of 1923?

"(b) If so, is section 6078 of the Code of 1923 broad enough in its scope to provide appeal in such cases?"

Response. Habeas corpus proceedings, under chapter 151 of the Code, section 4305 et seq., to inquire into the cause of restraint upon the liberty of the petitioner, under a criminal charge or other pretense, have long been held not reviewable by appeal, under section 6078, the general statute relating to final judgments and decrees in civil cases. The remedy in the absence of statute is by certiorari, mandamus, or other appropriate remedial writ granted by the appellate court in the exercise of its supervisory power over courts of inferior jurisdiction. Ex parte City Council of Montgomery, 64 Ala. 466; Ex parte Croom May, 19 Ala. 561; Guilford v. Hicks, 36 Ala. 95; State v. Towery, 143 Ala. 48, 39 So. 309.

In the Criminal Code of 1896 a new section, 4314, appeared, providing "any party aggrieved by the judgment on the trial of a habeas corpus may appeal to the Supreme Court," with added provisions relating to appeals by the state in such cases. This section passed without change into the Code of 1907, section 6245.

In the Code of 1923, section 3238, the quoted provision is stricken out, and the right of appeal limited to the state in case the accused under indictment for a capital offense is admitted to bail. By notes appended to section 3238 it appears the Code commissioner omitted the entire section 6245 of the Code of 1907, upon an expressed doubt of its constitutionality. The Code committee reinserted the section in greatly limited terms. The necessary effect is to restore the law prior to the Code of 1896, except to the limited effect expressed in section 3238, Code of 1923. We therefore approve the holding of the Court of Appeals in Ex parte State re Shirley, 20 Ala. App. 473,103 So. 68.

The custody of infants is a matter within the inherent jurisdiction of chancellors or courts of equity. A proceeding by habeas corpus is merely a recognized method of invoking the jurisdiction. The purpose of the proceeding fixes its character. It is a civil proceeding involving the rights of rival claimants inter partes, to be determined upon equitable, as well as legal principles, chief among equitable considerations being the welfare of the infant. Upon these grounds the decree or order in such cases, although proceeding by habeas corpus, is held appealable, under section 6078. Ex parte Tillman, supra; Thomas v. Thomas, 212 Ala. 85,101 So. 738.

We note that in habeas corpus for bail, application can be renewed in this court under section 3368, Code 1923.

All the Justices concur.