Doty v. Goodwin

George Rose Smith, Justice.

On June 7, 1968, a state police officer issued a traffic ticket to the appellee Goodwin, charging him with reckless driving and directing him to appear in a justice of the peace court for trial. In the justice court Goodwin moved for a dismissal of the charge, on the ground that in misdemeanor cases a justice of the peace receives his fees and costs only when the accused is convicted. Such a provision of law is a denial of due process. Tumey v. Ohio, 273 U. S. 510 (1927). The justice denied the motion to dismiss, but on certiorari the circuit court sustained…