State v. Hatton

Layton, J.:

In the following jurisdictions, Appellate Courts have held that a magistrate has no power to reopen or vacate a default judgment rendered by him after the expiration of the period of time within which motions to reopen or vacate are permitted by statute. Jeffries v. Newblock, 56 Okl. 320, 155 P. 1150; State ex rel. Surgeon v. Jones, 106 W. Va. 561, 146 S. E. 372; Pratt v. Roberts, 53 Me. 399, and Hunt v. Kennedy Coal Corp., 140 Va. 17, 124 S. E. 189. In each of the jurisdictions above mentioned, Magistrates’ Courts are established by Constitution.

Pratt v. Roberts, just mentioned,…