Site icon The Law Dictionary

MINISTERIAL

That which is done under the authority of a superior; opposed to judicial; that which involves obedience to instructions, but demands no special discretion, judgment or skill. Ministerial act. A ministerial act may be defined, to be one which a person performs in a given state of facts, in a prescribed manner, in obedience to the mandate of legal authority, without regard to or the exercise of his own judgment, upon the propriety of the act being done. Acts done out of court in bringing parties into court are. as a general proposition, ministerial acts. Pennington v. Streight. 54 Ind. 376 : Bair v. Struck, 29 Mont 45, 74 Pac. 69, 63 t. R. A. 481; State v. Nash, 66 Ohio St 612, 64 N. E. 558; Grider v. Tally, 77 Ala. 424, 54 Am. Rep. 65. Ministerial duty. A ministerial duty, the performance of which may in proper cases be required of a public officer by judicial proceedings, is one in respect to which nothing is left tp discretion; it is a simple, definite duty arising under circumstances admitted or proved to exist and imposed bv law. Stote v. McGratb, 92 Mo. 355, 5 S. V 29; Mississippi v. Johnson, 4 Wall. 498, 18 L. Ed. 437; People v. Jerome, 36 Misc. Rep. 256, 73 N. Y. Supp. 306; Duvall v. Swann, 94 Md. 008. 51 Atl. 617; Gledhill v. Governor, 25 N. J. Law, 351. A ministerial duty arises when an individual has such a legal interest in its performance that neglect of performance becomes a wrong to such individual. Morton v. Comptroller General. 4 S. C. 473. Ministerial officer. One whose duties are purely ministerial, as distinguished from executive, legislative, or judicial functions, requiring obedience to the mandates of superiors and not involving the exercise of judgment or discretion. Ministerial power. See POWER. Ministerial trust. See TRUST.

Exit mobile version