Leege v. Martin

DIMOND, Justice.

Appellees, commercial fishermen, were convicted by a jury in district magistrate court of fishing in a closed area. By statute in 1959 this offense was made a misdemeanor with penalties of fine and imprisonment. 1 In addition, the statute provided for forfeiture of commercial fishing licenses. 2 In 1961 the legislature enacted chapter 112 which amended the license forfeiture provision by adding the sentence: “Any forfeiture under this section is effective immediately upon conviction and no stay pending appeal may be granted.” 3

Appellees appealed their convictions to the…