Mayor of Chattanooga v. Keith

The only question in this case is as to the constitutionality of a clause in the charter of the city of Ohattanoga, which is as follows: “In all civil cases in which the fine imposed does not exceed $10, the judgment of the city court shall be final, and no appeal shall lie therefrom.”

The authorities agree that the remedy by appeal was unknown to the common law and was only employed for the review of cases of equity, ecclesiastical and admiralty jurisdiction; writ of error was the remedy to review judgments of the common pleas and other inferior courts of record when the proceedings were…