Allen v. Pratt, Judge., 87 Ga. App. 704, 75 S.E.2d 329 (1953)
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Summary
Application for mandamus.
Summary
Application for mandamus.
Text
Geo. W. Westmoreland, Jas. W. Arnold, for petitioner.
Where a defendant charged with a misdemeanor moves for a new trial by extraordinary motion, which motion is entertained, and a counter-showing made, and the trial court on the hearing denies such motion, and where the defendant presents to the trial court his bill of exceptions assigning error on the ruling denying such motion for a new trial, which the trial court signs and certifies, the defendant is entitled as a matter of right, under the provisions of Code 27-901, to be admitted to bail, and it is the duty of the trial judge to assess the amount thereof and allow such defendant to execute a supersedeas bail bond pending the disposition of such bill of exceptions.
A. D. Allen Jr. was tried and convicted in the Superior Court of Jackson County for carrying a pistol without a license in violation of Code 26-5103, which provides that it shall be unlawful to carry about one's person or have in his manual possession outside of his home or place of business any pistol or revolver without first taking out a license from the ordinary. Code 26-5106 provides that same shall be punished as a misdemeanor. The defendant moved for a new trial, and to the judgment denying it excepted to this court, which on July 12, 1952, affirmed the trial court (Allen v. State,
Thereupon, the defendant, A. D. Allen Jr., presented to this court his petition for a mandamus. A rule nisi issued thereon and his Honor, Judge Clifford Pratt of Jackson Superior Court was directed to show cause in writing before this court on Friday, February 6, 1953, why he should not allow said defendant, petitioner for mandamus, to make a supersedeas bond in said case. The respondent appeared and replied to said petition for mandamus, contending that under the law (Code, 27-901), he was invested with the discretion as to the giving of such supersedeas bond under the facts of the present case.
573 (4) (62 S. E. 104). It now remains to be seen whether or not the Judge of the Superior Court of Jackson County, respondent herein, should have granted the supersedeas and assessed the amount of the appeal bond and permitted the defendant in the case to be released on a supersedeas appeal bond. "Capital offenses are bailable only before a judge of the superior court; and this is in every case, a matter of sound discretion. All other cases are bailable by the committing court. At no time, either before the commitment court, when indicted, after a motion for a new trial is made, or while a bill of exceptions is pending, shall any person charged with a misdemeanor be refused bail." Code, 27-901.
When the court has signed the bill of exceptions, investing this court with jurisdiction, this court has the power and jurisdiction to require the trial court by mandamus to assess the amount of the supersedeas bail and admit the defendant in error to bail. Yeates v. Roberson, supra. See also, on the foregoing question, Johnson v. Aldredge,
In dealing with an extraordinary motion for a new trial (in a misdemeanor case), the trial judge is vested with a broad discretion. He may even not entertain it. If he does entertain it and in the proper exercise of his discretion denies it or overrules it, he will not be required by mandamus to sign a bill of exceptions to the appellate courts. In such event the defendant would not be entitled to a supersedeas bond in a case like the instant one. But if, as here, the judge does sign a bill of exceptions in a misdemeanor case to an extraordinary motion for a new trial, he is bound to allow a supersedeas bond pending the bill of exceptions, which he signed, under the law enacted by the General Assembly (Ga. L. 1922, p. 51; Code, 27-901). See Loomis v. Edwards, supra.
It follows that the mandamus nisi is made absolute. Townsend and Carlisle, JJ., concur.
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