State Savings Institution v. Nelson, 49 Ill. 171 (1868)

Sept. 1868 · Illinois Supreme Court
49 Ill. 171

The State Savings Institution v. John A. Nelson.

Judgment—power of the court after the term. The power of the court over its judgments, except to amend them in matters of form, or to correct clerical errors, is gone when the term at which they were rendered has expired. After that time, a court cannot, on motion, set aside a judgment.

Appeal from the Recorder’s Court of Chicago; the Hon. Evert Van Burén, Judge presiding.

On the 3d day of October, 1865, the State Sayings Institution recovered a judgment in the court below,.against John A. Nelson, the then sheriff of Cook county, for the sum of $1,500, for failing to pay over money collected by him upon execution.

*172On the 10th of February, 1868, the court, on motion of Nelson, set aside that judgment. The record is brought to this court, and the order setting aside the judgment is assigned as error.

Mr. A. C. Story, for the appellant.

Messrs. Goodrich, Farwell & Smith, for the appellee.

Mr. Justice Lawrence

delivered the opinion of the Court:

The judgment in this case was set aside on motion, more . than two years after its rendition. The court had no power ' tó-do this. Its power over the judgment, except to amend it in matters of form, or to correct clerical errors, was gone f.whtin the term at which it was rendered expired. Cook v. Wood, 24 Ill. 296. The appellee, if entitled to relief, must •’seek it'in a court of chancery.

-The order setting aside the judgment is reversed.

Judgment reversed.