21-27-6. Forfeiture by judge for refusal or delay in issuing writ--Liability for damages unimpaired.
Any judge empowered by this chapter to issue writs of habeas corpus, who shall corruptly refuse to issue such writ, when legally applied to, in a case where such writ may lawfully issue, or who shall, for the purpose of oppression, unreasonably delay the issuing of such writ, shall, for every such offense, forfeit to the prisoner or person aggrieved a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars. Recovery of the penalty provided herein shall be no bar to a civil suit for damages.
Source: CCrimP 1877, §§681, 688; CL 1887, §§7849, 7856; RCCrimP 1903, §§781, 788; RC 1919, §§4985, 4990; SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, §37.5507.