{
  "id": 1418527,
  "name": "State ex rel. Richardson v. Mack",
  "name_abbreviation": "State ex rel. Richardson v. Mack",
  "decision_date": "1935-09-30",
  "docket_number": "4-3961",
  "first_page": "350",
  "last_page": "353",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "191 Ark. 350"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ark.",
    "id": 8808,
    "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 34,
    "name_long": "Arkansas",
    "name": "Ark."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "295 S. W. 9",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.W.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "174 Ark. 214",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
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        8719649
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/174/0214-01"
      ]
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    {
      "cite": "239 S. W. 753",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.W.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "153 Ark. 114",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ark.",
      "case_ids": [
        1362278
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ark/153/0114-01"
      ]
    }
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    "word_count": 747
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T14:58:19.493067+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "State ex rel. Richardson v. Mack."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "McHaney, J.\nAppellant brought this action for mandamus against appellee as county judge of Jackson County to compel the appellee to make an order under \u00a7 2082, Crawford & Moses\u2019 Digest, providing for the working of county convicts upon roads, bridges, and other public improvements of the county. Appellee responded denying that appellant was entitled to the writ because the sections of the statute relied on were not mandatory upon him as county judge, but directory merely; that the matter of working the county convicts on the county roads, etc., is a matter resting within his discretion as county judge and not subject to be controlled by mandamus;-that \u00a7 28, art. 7, of the Constitution vested in him as county judge exclusive and original jurisdiction in all matters relating to county roads, bridges, etc., and that the Legislature had no authority under the Constitution to invade the prerogative of the county court, and that the petition seeks to violate said section of the Constitution. The court sustained appellee\u2019s response and denied the petition.\nIn so holding we think the learned trial court was correct. Section 2081, Crawford & Moses \u2019 Digest, relates to the employment of county convict labor, and provides that, in case the county court or the judge is unable to make a contract with any person in the county for the work of its prisoners, as provided in \u00a7 2060, \u201cthe court or judge thereof may contract for the work of its prisoners with some person in some other county of the State according to the provisions of this act; and if the county court or judge thereof be unable to make a satisfactory contract with some person of some other county, then the county court or judge thereof may order the prisoners to be worked on the public roads,\u201d etc. Section 2082 provides : \u201cIn the event that the county court or judge thereof shall order the prisoners to be worked on the roads,\u201d etc., as provided in the preceding section, he shall do certain .things-therein set out, and the. last clause in that section reads as follows: \u201cAnd in ease no contract as provided in \u00a7\u00a7 2060 and 2081 is made by the county court or judge thereof prior to the second Monday of January of. any year, then the said court or judge thereof must make the order, as provided in \u00a7 2081 for working the prisoners on the public roads, bridges, levees and other public improvements of the county.\u201d It is.appellant\u2019s contention that, because of the use of the word \u201cmust\u201d in the sentence last- quoted, the county judge thereof is maiidatorily bound to do so. This is the only 'place where the statute appears to attempt to make it imperative for a county court or judge to make the order to work the county prisoners on the roads, etc., of the county, and. Ave are constrained to believe that the Legislature did hot. so intend it. We are further constrained to this Anew by the language used in \u00a7 28 of art. 7 of the Constitution, which confers exclusive original jurisdiction on county courts in all matters relating to county roads, bridges, ferries, etc!, \u201cand in every other case that may be necessary to the internal improvement and local concerns of the respective counties.\u201d We do not hold that said \u00a7 2082 is in violation of the Constitution because courts do not hold statutes to be unconstitutional where any reasonable construction may be resorted to in order to save the statute from unconstitutionality. Standard Oil Co. of Louisiana v. Brodie, 153 Ark. 114, 239 S. W. 753; Bush v. Martineau, 174 Ark. 214, 295 S. W. 9.\nSince the language of the statutes under consideration, several times left it to the discretion of the county court as to Avhat disposition he would make of the county convicts, we must hold that the language quoted in \u00a7 2082 is -directory merely and not mandatory. It is true that the quorum court-of Jackson County made an appropriation-in the sum-,of $2,000 to pay the expenses of Avorking the county convicts on the roads, etc., but this could not have the effect of taking, away the jurisdiction of the county court in such matters. It follows from what we have said that the judgment must be affirmed. It is so ordered.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "McHaney, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Roy Richardson and Howard Hasting, for appellant.",
      "Fred M. Pickens, for appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "State ex rel. Richardson v. Mack.\n4-3961\nOpinion delivered September 30, 1935.\nRoy Richardson and Howard Hasting, for appellant.\nFred M. Pickens, for appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0350-01",
  "first_page_order": 368,
  "last_page_order": 371
}