Case Summary
Based on newspaper coverage, Attorney John Wiley and his associates Scott and Hale set out to challenge the constitutionality of the Police Court of Seattle, and consequently the rulings of Judge Claudius M. Rivers. Originally, they tried to use the case of James Shay (see: "In the Matter of the application of James Shay for a Writ of Habeas Corpus). Following the release of James Shay from custody on October 16th 1890, Wiley needed a new case to use to challenge the Police Court.
On October 17th, 1890, Wiley found John Reilley. That day, Reilly had been arrested for and found guilty of drunkenness. Judge Claudius M. Rivers ordered that Reilly be placed in the custody of Chief of Police George C. Monroe. Wiley and Reilly filed a petition for a writ habeas corpus. In Reilly's petition, just as in Shay's case, John Wiley claimed that the Police Court was unconstitutional. The City of Seattle had recently created and given jurisdiction to the Police Court via a charter. Because Wiley believed the Court and charter were unconstitutional, he alleged that Judge Rivers did not have the jurisdiction to charge Reilly with drunkenness, nor to have him detained. The petition was allowed by Judge Thomas J. Humes, and was heard in his court.
Newspaper coverage of this case indicates that City Attorney Lyon was the attorney for the respondent, and argued that the court was constitutional and subsequently Reilly was not being illegally detained. The newspapers indicate that Judge Humes ruled in favor of Lyon and Monroe, and Reilly remained in custody.
It is worth noting, the case "In the matter of the application of Harry Brooks for a Writ of Habeas Corpus", in February 1890, is another case that challenged the constitutionality of the Police Court, and subsequently of Judge Rivers.
Case Information
Petition type(s)
Petition subtype(s)
- Drunkenness
- Disorderly conduct
Sites of significance
Outcome
Writ denied
Fate of bound party
Remained in custody
Case Citation
King County Government, Judicial Records, Superior Court, Case No. 184
Source material(s)
Case File
Length of case file
Between 21 and 30 pages
Related petitions
Repository(s)
State
Point(s) of law cited
Article XVI of The Freeholders Charter, Seattle WA, October 1, 1890
