In the Matter of Harris

84 S.E.2d 808 (1954)

241 N.C. 179

In the Matter of Woodrow W. HARRIS.

No. 437.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

November 24, 1954.

Blanchard & Jordan, Raleigh, for petitioner.

Harry McMullan, Atty. Gen., Ralph Moody, Asst. Atty. Gen., and Gerald F. White, Raleigh, Member of Staff, for the State.

JOHNSON, Justice.

As suggested in the petitioner's brief, there appear to be at least two ways for a mental patient to gain dismissal from a State hospital: "(1) achieving competency or soundness of mind as described in G.S. § 122-46.1 and (2) release by the Superintendent under G.S. § 122-67."

G.S. § 122-46.1 provides in part: "* * * Any person who has been committed to any State hospital as mentally disordered as provided by law shall be and remain a charge of such State hospital until he has been discharged from said hospital or declared competent as otherwise provided by law." (Italics added.)

The petitioner insists that a lunacy proceeding by jury trial under G.S. § 35-4 is permissible procedure by which he may be "declared competent as otherwise provided by law" as a condition precedent to release within the meaning of G.S. § 122-46.1.

Thus, the instant appeal poses this question: May a person committed to a State mental institution under Article 3, Chapter 122, of the General Statutes, invoke the provisions of G.S. § 35-4 for restoration *809 of sanity by jury trial? The court below answered in the negative, and we approve.

It would seem that the petitioner's remedy is by habeas corpus. And this is so notwithstanding G.S. § 17-4(2) which provides that the application to prosecute the writ shall be denied "Where persons are committed or detained by virtue of the final order, judgment or decree of a competent tribunal of civil or criminal jurisdiction, or by virtue of an execution issued upon such final order, judgment or decree." See also G.S. § 17-34(2). It may be doubted that these sections are applicable to ex parte commitments by clerks of the Superior Court under the provisions of Article 3, Chapter 122, of the General Statutes. A proceeding under this Article "seems to be neither a civil action nor a special proceeding". In re Cook, 218 N.C. 384, 11 S.E.2d 142, 143.

G.S. § 17-32 provides: "The court or judge before whom the party is brought on a writ of habeas corpus shall, immediately after the return thereof, examine into the facts contained in such return, and into the cause of the confinement or restraint of such party, whether the same has been upon commitment for any criminal or supposed criminal matter or not; and if issue be taken upon the material facts in the return, or other facts are alleged to show that the imprisonment or detention is illegal, or that the party imprisoned is entitled to his discharge, the court or judge shall proceed, in a summary way, to hear the allegations and proofs on both sides, and to do what to justice appertains in delivering, bailing or remanding such party." (Italics added.)

G.S. § 17-33(2) provides that a person restrained of his liberty may be discharged on return of the writ of habeas corpus "Where, though the original imprisonment was lawful, yet by some act, omission or event, which has taken place afterwards, the party has become entitled to be discharged." (Italics added.) The recovery from a mental disease after commitment to an institution would seem to be an "event which has taken place afterwards," within the meaning of G.S. § 17-33(2), entitling an inmate to discharge under G.S. § 17-32.

The statement contra in In re Chase, 193 N.C. 450, 137 S.E. 305, may be treated as dictum rather than decision.

Affirmed.