Opinion

Lake County Property Owners Ass'n v. Holovachka

  • 233 Ind. 509
  • 120 N.E.2d 263
  • 1954 Ind. LEXIS 230
Court
Indiana Supreme Court
Filed
Jun 16, 1954
Status
Published
Author
Flanagan
On the bench
Bobbitt, Flanagan
Cited by
2 cases
Authority
More cited than 57.1%

The opinion

Flanagan, C. J.

Appellants filed their petition in the Lake Criminal Court demanding the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate alleged irregular activities of the regular prosecutor. Their demand was denied. For the purpose of this opinion, the procedure followed need not be detailed.

The Constitution of the State of Indiana provides for prosecuting attorneys under the Judicial Branch of Government. Art. 7, Sec. 11.

Clearly, they are officers of the court. It is the duty of the courts to compel proper conduct on the part of such officers. With that duty necessarily goes the right to perform that function.

No court is ever closed to the voice of the citizenry. Their suggestions and advice are always welcome. But, if orderly society is to remain, decisions on such suggestions and advice must be those of the courts. As the family, the foundation of society, *511 seeks suggestions and advice, but in purely family matters must have the right to finally determine its own internal affairs, so must the judiciary seek suggestions and advice, but have the right to determine its own internal affairs.

It may be properly said, “But this affects the public.” So do decisions within a home.

It must be clear that the determination as to whether a judge shall spank his prosecuting attorney must be left to the discretion of the judge. If he fails to do the job as the people want him to do it, they may remove him at the next election. In the meantime, they may petition, but they may not demand.

Appellants have appealed from the action of the trial court in refusing to grant their petition to appoint a special prosecutor. Appellee has moved to dismiss the appeal because appellants had no right of action to begin with, and therefore could have no right to appeal.

We agree with appellee.

Appeal dismissed.

Emmert and Gilkison, JJ., concur.

Bobbitt, J., concurs with opinion.

Draper, J., not participating.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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