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Michigan Law Review

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Full-Text Articles in State and Local Government Law

The New Michigan Court Rules, Edson R. Sunderland Mar 1931

The New Michigan Court Rules, Edson R. Sunderland

Michigan Law Review

There are two features of general interest connected with the revised system of practice which went into operation in Michigan on January 1, 1931. The first is the manner of employing the rule-making power, and the second is the content of the new rules.


Constitutional Law-Due Process-Police Power-Junk Yards Mar 1931

Constitutional Law-Due Process-Police Power-Junk Yards

Michigan Law Review

The City of Ashland, Kentucky, acting under a specific power to license and regulate junk yards granted to it by the legislature under section 3058-2 Ky. Stat. (Carroll, 1922) passed an ordinance requiring applicants for licenses to operate junk yards within the city of Ashland. "to make and execute with the Clerk of the City of Ashland, Kentucky, a permit signed by the applicant providing that the Police Department * * * may inspect and search the said shop or place of business." The appellant complied with all other requirements, but refused to execute the permit: Because the clerk would …


Constitutional Law-Due Process-Reasonableness Of Police Regulation Mar 1931

Constitutional Law-Due Process-Reasonableness Of Police Regulation

Michigan Law Review

The New York Agriculture and Markets Law, (Cons. Law, c. 69), sec. 252, 253, required an annual license of all persons or corporations gathering milk from producers for manufacture or resale. This was to be issued only upon execution of a bond for at least $2,000, conditioned upon the compliance with this law and the prompt payment to producers for milk or cream bought by the gatherer. The commission, however, could by formal order relieve the gatherer from having to file this bond if satisfied as to the gather's solvency and probable ability to pay for milk purchased. In case …


Constitutional Law-Due Process-Revocationof Driver's License Mar 1931

Constitutional Law-Due Process-Revocationof Driver's License

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner's license was suspended under a statute which provided that if a judgment for personal injuries or property damage resulting from the ownership or operation of an automobile remained unpaid fifteen days after it became final, the driver's license should be revoked or suspended until payment and until proof offered of ability to pay future claims. Arrested and jailed for driving without a license, petitioner sought release by writ of habeas corpus on the ground that the statute was unconstitutional. Held, that the operation of the statute was discriminatory and based on an unnatural classification; petitioner discharged. Ex parte …


Crimes-Mistake Of Facts Of A Defense Mar 1931

Crimes-Mistake Of Facts Of A Defense

Michigan Law Review

The defendant was convicted of bigamy under the usual statute (in this case, Fla. Comp, L., 1927, secs. 7559-7660) punishing as bigamous any person remarrying while the former spouse was still living, unless that spouse had been absent three years, the party remarrying not knowing the other to be alive during that time, or unless a legal divorce had been granted. The defense was, that as the defendant's first wife had told him and others that she had secured a divorce and had remarried, and had introduced to him her second husband, he honestly believed her. It was held, …


Statutes-Indefiniteness As Affecting Vaudity Mar 1931

Statutes-Indefiniteness As Affecting Vaudity

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff sought to enjoin the enforcement of Public Acts Conn. 1929, c. 296, section 4 of which prohibits the "sale or delivery of lubricating oil for use in motor vehicle engines, that shall not be 'equal to or better in quality and specifications' than that !mown as United States Government Specifications for Motor (Class D) Lubricants." Section 5 provides for all tests to determine quality to be made in accordance with methods contained in a certain technical paper of the Bureau of Mines, made a part of the act. The act further provided fines and imprisonment for violations. The district …


Statutes-"Reasonable Speed"-Interpretation Feb 1931

Statutes-"Reasonable Speed"-Interpretation

Michigan Law Review

In an action for damages arising out of an accident the instruction was given :that the intersection was a closely built-up portion of the city within the meaning of sec. 12003, 110 Ohio Laws p. 138 which provided, "A rate of speed greater than fifteen miles an hour in the business or closely built-up portions of a municipal corporation or more than twenty-five miles an hour in other portions thereof * * * shall be prima facie evidence of a rate of speed greater than is reasonable and proper." Upon each corner of the intersection there were buildings two or …


The Initiation Of Criminal Prosecutions By Indictment Or Information, Raymond Moley Feb 1931

The Initiation Of Criminal Prosecutions By Indictment Or Information, Raymond Moley

Michigan Law Review

One of the most pronounced changes in criminal procedure proposed by the new criminal code prepared under the direction of and approved by the American Law Institute is that which proposes "all offenses heretofore required to be prosecuted by indictment may be prosecuted either by indictment or information.'' This would radically affect the present criminal procedure of one-half of the states. In twenty-four states prosecution of practically all cases may now be by information. The reform thus officially proposed by the Institute has been widely recommended by commissions and committees interested in the reform of criminal procedure. In many of …


Public Utilities-Power Of Commissoin To Change Rates Set In Franchise Granted By Legislature Feb 1931

Public Utilities-Power Of Commissoin To Change Rates Set In Franchise Granted By Legislature

Michigan Law Review

The Dry Dock Company was given franchises by the legislature to operate street railways in New York City, by Laws 1860, c. 512, and Laws 1866, cc. 866, 868, 883. These special laws fixed a five-cent maximum fare. Much later, the Public Service Commission Law (Cons. laws, c. 48) was enacted. Sec. 29 of this provided that, "unless the commission otherwise orders, no change shall be made in any rate * * * which shall have been filed and published by a common carrier * * * except after 30 days' notice to the commission * * * and all …


Some Comments On The Reserved Power To Alter, Amend And Repeal Corporate Charters, Gustavus Ohlinger Feb 1931

Some Comments On The Reserved Power To Alter, Amend And Repeal Corporate Charters, Gustavus Ohlinger

Michigan Law Review

The old theories as to the nature, creation and powers of corporations which during the last hundred years have been obscured, but today are coming more and more to the fore in legal literature, in the adjudications of the courts, and in recent revisions of corporation acts suggest a re-examination of the power of state legislatures to alter, amend and repeal corporate charters under the reservations contained in many state constitutions and statutes, both as related to those theories and as they apply to recent and impending social and economic changes.


Trusts-Right Of Trustee To Reimbursement For Tort Liability Feb 1931

Trusts-Right Of Trustee To Reimbursement For Tort Liability

Michigan Law Review

The recent New York case, In re Lathers presents the question seldom before raised whether a trustee may be reimbursed from the trust estate for tort liability to a third person through his negligence in management of the estate. In that case, as a result of fire in an apartment building of the trust property, the trustee suffered judgments for $62,000 plus costs. The rooms of one apartment, rented by the trustee's agent, had been closed off by the lessee to form several small apartments. For the one subleased to the tort creditor, access to fire escapes, adequate normally, was …


Crimes-Speedy Trial-Justification For Delay Jan 1931

Crimes-Speedy Trial-Justification For Delay

Michigan Law Review

The defendant was convicted under a state prohibition statute. The information was filed on June 7, 1929, and no further proceedings were taken against him for more than sixty days thereafter. The defendant moved to dismiss the suit on the ground that he had not had a speedy trial. No jury was on duty during the months of July, August, and the early part of September. Held, that the constitutional guaranty of a speedy trial was not infringed by such delay. State v. Vukich (Wash. 1930) 290 Pac. 992.


Land Title Registration-Effect Of Registration Of Forged Deed And Transfer To Bona Fide Purchaser Under Torrens Act Jan 1931

Land Title Registration-Effect Of Registration Of Forged Deed And Transfer To Bona Fide Purchaser Under Torrens Act

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs, purchasers of land previously brought under Illinois Torrens Act, delivered certificate of title to party under agreement to sell, who forged deed to himself, had certificate issued in his name, and then conveyed to defendants who were good faith purchasers for value. Plaintiffs informed registrar of the forgery after the defendants had bought, and demanded cancellation of the deeds and certificates, and the reissue of a certificate to themselves. The registrar refused, and this petition was brought to compel such action. Held, plaintiffs having voluntarily bought land brought under Torrens system, there was a waiver of any constitutional …


Corporations-Preparation Of Stockholders' List-Statutory Provision Jan 1931

Corporations-Preparation Of Stockholders' List-Statutory Provision

Michigan Law Review

On a petition challenging the legality of an election of directors at a special meeting, one of the contentions was that calling this meeting on five days' notice violated section 29 of the Delaware General Corporation Act, as amended by 36 Del. Laws, c. 135, sec. 15, which provided that a list of stockholders entitled to vote be made by the officer in charge, ten days before every election. Held, this is not grounds for avoiding the election; the provisions of the statute are directory only, and where a by-law of the corporation required five days' notice for special …


Crimes - Venue- Non-Support, Abandonment, And Desertion Jan 1931

Crimes - Venue- Non-Support, Abandonment, And Desertion

Michigan Law Review

Defendant was divorced by his wife in A county in 1926. In 1929, defendant was indicted for non-support of his children, in B county, where his former wife and the children had maintained their home since the divorce. An objection to the venue was raised by the defense, on the ground that, if a crime was committed, it was consummated in A county, where defendant had been living during the time he was charged with non-support. Held, that "the venue of non-support is where that support should be rendered." State v. Anderson (Or. 1930) 290 Pac. 1904


Crimes-Former Jeopardy-Prosecution In Two Counties For A Continuous Act Jan 1931

Crimes-Former Jeopardy-Prosecution In Two Counties For A Continuous Act

Michigan Law Review

Defendants transported liquor by a single, uninterrupted act from A county to B county in the same state. Having been convicted and fined in B county for the transportation within its boundaries, they were later indicted in A county for that part of the transportation which took place in that territory. A plea of former jeopardy was sustained by the trial judge, and on appeal this holding was affirmed by a divided court, which held, the act constituted a single offense, punishable in either county, but not in both. State v. Shimman et al. (Ohio, 1930) 172 N.E. 367.


Municipal Corporations-Billboards-Prohibition Near Parks And Boulevards Jan 1931

Municipal Corporations-Billboards-Prohibition Near Parks And Boulevards

Michigan Law Review

The defendant acting under statutory authority passed an ordinance prohibiting billboards within five hundred feet of any park or boulevard. Held, the ordinance was valid but unenforceable as to existing billboards except upon the payment of compensation. General Outdoor Advertising Co. v. City of Indianapolis (Ind. 1930) 172 N.E. 309.


Constitutional Law-Due Process-Statutory Interpretation As Judicial Legislation Dec 1930

Constitutional Law-Due Process-Statutory Interpretation As Judicial Legislation

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff brought suit in Missouri to enjoin collection of taxes alleged to be discriminatory, basing his claim for equitable relief on the absence of any other remedy. The supreme court of Missouri dismissed the bill, without hearing on the substantive question, on the ground that there existed, under a state statute, an adequate remedy in appeal to the state tax commission. Previously the court had denied, in several cases, that the statute gave such a right, and had allowed equitable relief in one case on that ground. When the decision in the principal case was rendered, it was too late …


Constitutional Law -Elections - Constitutionality Of The Corrupt Practices Act-The Kohler Case Dec 1930

Constitutional Law -Elections - Constitutionality Of The Corrupt Practices Act-The Kohler Case

Michigan Law Review

The relator brought an action to test the right of the defendant Kohler to the office of governor of the state of Wisconsin, asserting that his election was invalid for violation of the Corrupt Practices Act, particularly in that he had expended more than $100,000 for political purposes in violation of the provision of the act limiting such expenditures for candidates for governor to $4,000. The defendant demurred to the petition, asserting that the Corrupt Practices Act is void and unconstitutional as applied to the governor because (1) the statute seeks to prescribe either qualifications for the office of governor …


The Laws And Liberties Of Massachusetts, Randolph G. Adams Dec 1930

The Laws And Liberties Of Massachusetts, Randolph G. Adams

Michigan Law Review

A Review of THE LAWS AND LIBERTIES OF MASSACHUSETTS reprinted from the copy of the 1648 edition in the Henry E. Huntington Library, with an Introduction by Max Farrand.


Corporations - Directors - Power Of Shareholders To Fill Vacancies Nov 1930

Corporations - Directors - Power Of Shareholders To Fill Vacancies

Michigan Law Review

One of a directorate of three having resigned in the middle of his term, a special stockholders' meeting was called to fill the vacancy, and defendant was elected to finish the term. The relator, a stockholder and director, brought a writ of quo warranto to oust the defendant on the ground that the Corporation Act (ch. 32, sec. 21, par. 5, Ill. Rev. Stat. Cahill, 1929) provided that "the directors shall fill all vacancies which may happen in the board * * * by death, resignation, or otherwise, until the next annual meeting of the stockholders," and that therefore the …


The Illinois Appellate Courts-Are They Satisfactory? May 1929

The Illinois Appellate Courts-Are They Satisfactory?

Michigan Law Review

The instantaneous answer of "Yes" to this question was given by every Illinois attorney the writer asked while gathering material for this article, and undoubtedly that would be the answer of an overwhelming percentage of the Illinois Bar. In the Constitutional Convention of 1920 in Illinois, not one of the fifty odd lawyer members ever questioned their expediency in all the debates on the judiciary article. And much can, of course, be said in their favor. They relieve the supreme court of a great burden of work. They are closer at hand than the supreme court to most of the …


Recent Important Decisions Apr 1929

Recent Important Decisions

Michigan Law Review

A collection of recent important court decisions.


Book Reviews Mar 1929

Book Reviews

Michigan Law Review

A collection of book reviews by multiple authors.


Municipal Corporations-Methods Of Detaching Outlying Districts Mar 1929

Municipal Corporations-Methods Of Detaching Outlying Districts

Michigan Law Review

Since the power to restrict boundaries is legislative in nature, territory which has once become part of an incorporated community can be detached only by the authority of a statute, and the corporation, the courts, and even the people are powerless to act unless so authorized. 1. DILLON, MUNCIPAL CORPORATIONS, 4th ed. sec. 356. But when the town is booming and each farmer sees himself swept into wealth by the subdivision and sale of his property, who worries about detaching land? It is only when the boom has passed and the farmer finds himself still engaged in agriculture, and burdened …


The Status Of A Municipal Corporation Organized Under An Unconstitutional Statute, Oliver P. Field Mar 1929

The Status Of A Municipal Corporation Organized Under An Unconstitutional Statute, Oliver P. Field

Michigan Law Review

A municipal corporation has governmental as well as proprietary functions to perform. It differs from a private corporation in that its primary functions are governmental. Municipal corporations are usually spoken of as legal persons, or entities, in the same sense that private corporations are, but in studying them it must always be borne in mind that the main purpose for which most of them are created is that they may perform certain governmental functions.


The Law School And The State, William W. Cook Jun 1928

The Law School And The State, William W. Cook

Michigan Law Review

On the legal profession rests the responsibility for the future of America. Now here else does the necessary leadership exist, and leadership, based on training, character and intelligence, will determine the future of the republic. The rapid rise of America to the primacy of the world; its vast wealth, power and population; its problems of capital and labor; its expansion of governmental functions; its diversity of races; its determination to preserve American institutions-all demand leadership of the highest order, and that can be found only in the legal profession. It is a problem of the ages. From Plato's Republic to …


Due Process Of Law In State Labor Legislation, Fowler Vincent Harper Jun 1928

Due Process Of Law In State Labor Legislation, Fowler Vincent Harper

Michigan Law Review

With this material in mind, is it possible to arrive at any useful conclusions as to what constitutes due process of law in labor legislation? In each group of cases, there seem to be two distinct, though inseparable functions of the judicial process of reviewing the legislation in question. The courts, in brief, are arriving at conclusions both of fact and of law. The impression was, at one time prevalent that the extent of review of certain types of labor legislation was limited to the reasonableness of the' statute as respects the end sought and the means of attaining that …


Due Process Of Law In State Labor Legislation, Fowler Vincent Harper May 1928

Due Process Of Law In State Labor Legislation, Fowler Vincent Harper

Michigan Law Review

State interference with conditions of employment, as determined by the strength of the contracting parties, by imposing requirements calculated to protect the safety and health of employees, has not been without interruption from the courts. In the earlier cases, when organized labor was not strong enough to enforce the most reasonable demands without assistance from the legislature, the courts were wont to look with astute eye upon the infringement of liberty of contract thus resulting. When the reasoning started with the assumption that liberty of contract was the rule and the employment of the police power of the State the …


Due Process Of Law In State Labor Legislation, Fowler Vincent Harper Apr 1928

Due Process Of Law In State Labor Legislation, Fowler Vincent Harper

Michigan Law Review

Any regulation on the part of the state of the relations between the laborer and his employer must necessarily deprive the one or the other of his liberty or property, by interfering with his freedom to contract. The protection of freedom of contract which the Constitution affords is not, however, an absolute right. There is nothing necessarily unconstitutional about such legislation unless it is "without due process of law." In other words, legislation of this kind is usually a valid regulation if it can be justified as coming within the due process of law provision.