Clay v. Ballard

Citations

• 87 Va. 787
• 13 S.E. 262
• 1891 Va. LEXIS 128

Syllabus

<p>1. Mandamus—Court of appeals—Its jurisdiction.—Code, §3086, was intended to define the remedy of mandamus as it exists at common law, and does not, nor does the fact that said section gives similar authority to the circuit courts, restrict the jurisdiction of this court to award the writ in all cases in which it may be necessary to prevent a failure of justice.</p> <p>2. Registration Books—Inspection—Remedy.—Though registrar be allowed. no compensation for time lost in so doing, yet mandamus will lie to compel him to allow any citizen to inspect, and take copies of the registration books, as they are of a public nature, and every citizen has an interest in them.</p> <p>3. Idem—Row § 84 construed.—§ 84 providing that those books be open at all times to public inspection was intended as a safeguard against fraud, and must be liberally construed.</p>