Spurgeon v. Worley

The relator, Jordan Spurgeon, sued out the writ of habeas corpus to test the legality of his restraint by the judgment of a justice of the peace. The trial judge held that the act, creating a special court for Johnson City with exclusive jurisdiction in misdemeanor cases, was invalid in so far as it deprived justices of the peace of jurisdiction and remanded the relator to custody. He appealed, and the cause is here for review upon assignments of error.

The act in question is chapter 352, Private Acts of 1935, which confers upon the city court of Johnson City original jurisdiction over all…