Geyer's Lessee v. Irwin
| Decision Date | 01 April 1790 |
| Citation | 1 L.Ed. 762,4 Dall. 107,4 U.S. 107 |
| Parties | Geyer's Lessee v. Irwin. |
| Court | U.S. Supreme Court |
THIS ejectment, depending in Alleghany county, was marked for trial, on the list of causes at Nisi Prius. The defendant's attorney, after looking at the papers of the opposite party, confessed judgment.
But now Lewis, producing an affidavit of a just and legal defence, moved to set aside the judgment, on the ground, principally, that the defendant was a member of the general assembly, attending his public duty at Philadelphia, at the time of marking the cause for trial, and confessing the judgment. He said, that the attorney had been compelled, either to go to trial, or to confess judgment; and that not being possessed of his client's proofs, he had preferred the latter course: but, he insisted, that, during the session of the legislature, every member was privileged against the necessity of attending to his private suits; and that, therefore, the cause had been irregularly placed upon the trial list.
Ingersoll, for the plaintiff, denied, that the legislative privilege extended to the present case; and urged, that even if it was a case of privilege, the attorney had waived it, by omitting to object at the proper time.
A member of the general assembly is, undoubtedly, privileged from arrest, summons, citation, or other civil process, during his attendance on the public business confided to him. And, we think, that upon principle, his suits cannot be forced to a trial and decision, while the session of the legislature continues.
But every privileged person must, at a proper time, and in a proper manner, claim the benefit of his privilege. The judges are not bound, judicially, to notice a right of privilege, nor to grant it without a claim. In the present instance, neither the defendant, nor his attorney, suggested the privilege, as an objection to the trial of the cause: and this amounts to a waiver, by which the party is forever concluded.
We are, therefore, unanimously of opinion, that the judgment cannot now be set aside, or opened.
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Bd. of Supervisors of Fluvanna Cnty. v. Davenport
...the legislators must “at a proper time, and in a proper manner, claim the benefit of [the] privilege.” Geyer's Lessee v. Irwin, 4 U.S. 107, 107–08, 4 Dall. 107, 1 L.Ed. 762 (1790). In Geyer's Lessee, the defendant's attorney failed to raise the defendant's privilege when he was tending to p......
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Nw. Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Conaway
...supra; Peters v. League, 13 Md. 58, 71 Am. Dec. 622; Prentis v. Commonwealth, 5 Rand. (Va.) 697, 16 Am. Dec. 782;Gyer's Lessee v. Irwin, 4 Dall. 107, 1 L. Ed. 762; 1 Freeman on Judgments, § 401. Judgments erroneously entered in such cases are not void but voidable. 1 Freeman on Judgments, §......
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Northwestern Casualty & Surety Co. v. Conaway
... ... Dec. 622); Prentis v. Commonwealth, 26 Va. 697, ... 5 Rand. 697 (16 Am. Dec. 782); Geyer's Lessee v ... Irwin, 4 U.S. 107, 4 Dall. * 107 (1 L.Ed. 762); 1 ... Freeman on Judgments (5th Ed.), ... ...
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State ex rel. Isenring v. Polacheck
...5 Rand. 697, 16 Am. Dec. 782, and cases cited in the notes; Chase v. Fish, 16 Me. 132; In re Roszcynialla (Wis.) 75 N. W. 167;Geyer's Lessee v. Irwin, 4 Dall. 107. In the first of these cases it was held that courts do not take judicial notice of the privilege granted to legislators exempti......