41 Me. 38 | Me. | 1856
The memorialist represents to this Court that, in October, 1855, he was duly appointed and commissioned by the Governor, a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court; that afterwards he took and subscribed the oaths required by the constitution of this State and of the United States, to qualify Mm to execute the trust conferred by the commission, and that he has continued in the discharge of the duties required under said commission since the time of Ms qualification; that after certain proceedings, which are fully set forth in the memorial, the two branches of the Legislature adopted an address to the Governor for his removal from his said office for causes specifically described in certain resolves, passed by the Senate on March 19, 1856, which make a part of the proceedings aforesaid, and on the eleventh day of April, 1856, the Governor, with the advice of the Council, upon the address of the two branches of the Legislature, undertook to remove him from said office; and that no one has been appointed in his place. Whereupon the memorialist, averring and believing that all the acts and proceedings referred to in his memorial, on the part of the two branches of the Legislature and of the Governor, are in violation of the provisions of the constitution of this State, and are, therefore, null and. void, and that he has still a right to exercise the privileges and discharge the duties of his office, now claims to act as an associate Justice of the Court, and he prays its judgment and opinion thereupon; and that this memorial may be entered of record, and that notice may be ordered to be given to him, at what terms of the Court his services may be required during the current year.
It appears from the commission of the Governor, and the certificate of the oaths taken by Judge Davis, that he was duly appointed and authorized to act as a Justice of this Court; and from copies, from the office of the Secretary of State, introduced by him, that after he was duly informed of the resolves aforesaid, and the charges therein contained, and he was heard by his counsel before both branches of the Legislature, but in a manner which he alleges was entirely un
This Court is, therefore, called upon, not only to consider the proceedings preliminary to the address of the two branches of the Legislature, and decide whether they were valid or otherwise, but also to pass upon the question, whether the attempted removal by the Governor was in conformity to the provision of the constitution in art. 9, § 5, and has the effect to disqualify him from exercising the duties appertaining to the office of a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, and to deprive him of the right to receive the compensation established by law for Justices of the same.
An important question is presented, whether under a proper and sufficient process, served upon parties adversely interested, this Court have the power to examine and conclusively decide the constitutional propositions stated in the memorial, to be supported or not; and if it has the power to do so, whether it is under obligation to take jurisdiction and pronounce a final judgment thereon.
Assuming that a constitutional question is so presented to the Court that it can take jurisdiction of it, and may decide it conclusively, and effectually, the obligation to entertain
What was said by Chief Justice Marshall of the power and the duty of the Supreme Court of the United States is equally applicable to this Court. “It is most true that this Court will not take jurisdiction, if it should not, but it is equally true, that it must take jurisdiction, if it should. The judiciary cannot, as the Legislature may, avoid a measure, because it approaches the confines of the constitution. We cannot pass it by, because it is doubtful. With whatever doubts or whatever difficulties, a case may be attended, it must decide it, if it be brought before us. We have no more right to decline the exercise of jurisdiction, which is given, than to usurp that, which is not given. The one or the other would be treason to the constitution. Questions may occur, which we would gladly avoid, but we cannot avoid them.” Cohens v. Virginia, 6 Wheat. 404.
In Fullerton v. Bank of United States, 1 Peters, 614, it is said by Mr. Justice Johnson, “What is the course of prudence and duty, when these cases of difficult distribution, as to power and right, present themselves ? It is to yield rather than to encroach. The duty is reciprocal, and no doubt it will be met in the spirit of moderation and comity. In the conflicts of power and opinion, inseparable .from our many peculiar relations, cases occur, in which the maintenance of principle and the constitution according to its innate and inseparable attributes, may require a different course, and when such cases do occur, our courts must do their duty.” As a commentary upon the remark quoted, Judge Story says, “ The judiciary has no authority to adopt a middle course. It is compelled when called upon to decide whether a law is constitutional or not.” 3 Com. on Constitution, § 1573, note 1.
Every government must be, in its essence, unsafe and unfit for a free people, where a judicial department does not exist. This power in every government must be coextensive with the power of legislation. Were there no power to interpret, pronounce and execute the law, the government would either
“ There is no liberty, if the judiciary power be not separated from the legislative and executive powers,” is a principle stated by Montesquieu’s Spirit of Laws, book 11, c. 6.
“ Personal security and private property rest entirely upon the wisdom, the stability and the integrity of the courts of justice.” 1 Kent’s Com., Lect. 14, p. 273.
If that government can truly 'be said to be despotic and intolerable, in which the law is vague and uncertain, it can but be rendered still more oppressive and more mischievous, when the actual administration of justice is dependent upon caprice or favor, upon the will of rulers, or the influence of popularity. When power becomes right, it is of little consequence, whether decisions rest upon corruption or weakness, upon the accidents of chance or upon deliberate wrong. In every well organized government, therefore, in reference to the security both of public and private rights, it is indispensable, that there should be a judicial department, to ascertain and decide rights, to punish crimes, to administer justice, and to protect the innocent from injury and usurpation. Rawle on the Constitution, c. 21, p. 199.
Laws, however wholesome or necessary, are frequently the object of temporary aversion, and sometimes of popular resistance. It is requisite, that the courts of justice should be able at all times to present a determined countenance against all licentious acts. 1 Kent’s Com., Lect. 14, p. 275.
“ The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential in a limited constitution. By limited constitution, I understand one, which contains certain specified exceptions to the legislative authority; such for instance, as that it shall pass no bills of attainder, no ex post facto law, and
Judge Story remarks, “the independence of the judges is equally requisite to guard the constitution and the rights of individuals from the effects of those ill humors, which the arts of designing men, or the influence of particular conjunctures sometimes disseminate among the people themselves; and which, though they give place to better information and more deliberate reflection, have a tendency in the meantime to occasion dangerous innovations in government, and serious aggressions on the minor party in the community.” Story on Con., § 1596.
Doctor Paley says, “The great security for the impartial administration of justice, especially in decisions, to which the government is a party, is the independence of the judges. As protection against every illegal attack upon the rights of the subject, by the servants of the crown, is to be sought for, from these tribunals, the judges of the land become not unfrequently, the arbitrators between the king and the people; on which account, they ought to be independent of each other.”
De Tocqueville remarks of the Supreme Court of the United States, that it summons sovereign powers to its bar. When the clerk of the court advances on the steps of the tribunal and simply says, “The State of New York versus the State of Ohio, it is impossible not to feel, that the Court which he addresses is no ordinary body; and when it is recollected, that one of these parties represents one million and the other two millions of men, one is struck with the responsibility of the judges, whose decision is about to satisfy or disappoint so large a number of their fellow citizens. The peace, the prosperity and the very existence of the Union are' vested in the hands of these judges. Without their active cooperation, the constitution would be a dead letter. The executive appeals
With a view to these principles, which are so essential to the government of a free people, the framers of the constitution of this State provided therein that the powers of the government shall be divided into three distinct departments: the legislative, executive and judicial. And it is provided, that no person or persons belonging to one of these departments shall exercise any of the powers properly belonging to either of the others, excepting - in cases in the constitution expressly directed and permitted. Con. of Maine, art. 3, § § 1 and 2.
“The first was to pass laws, the second to approve and execute them, and the third to expound and enforce them. Without the latter, it would be impossible to carry into effect some of the express provisions of the constitution.” 3 Story’s Com. on Cons., § 1584.
Each of the three departments being independent, as a consequence, are severally supreme within their legitimate and appropriate sphere of action. All are limited by the constitution. The judiciary cannot restrict or enlarge the obvious meaning of any legislative act, although they are bound to give construction to acts which are properly submitted to them, and to apply them, provided they do not transcend the bounds fixed by the constitution. The executive have no power to give practical interpretation to laws, in conflict with legal opinions properly given by the judiciary. The legislature are powerless in any attempt to legislate in violation of, or inconsistent with, constitutional restraints. And when, if ever, the executive or legislative departments have exercised in any respect a power not conferred by the constitution, on a
These principles, which have been adverted to and which are really fundamental, carried out in practice by a judiciary, educated in a manner suited to qualify it for the discharge of its high trust, conscientiously determined to fullfil all the duties devolving upon it without invading the province of any other department, possessed of that firmness which disregards the temporary security which may falsely be supposed to be obtained by an undue submission to legislative or executive power, and fearlessly meeting every official call uninfluenced by the clamors of popular complaint, or ephemeral supremacy of a political party, will do much to render permanent the landmarks of the constitution and to promote the great ends of the government of a free people.
When a statute of the legislature, or any act of the executive is brought to the test of the constitution before the judiciary, it is not upon the hypothesis, that because the latter have the power to pronounce void the doings of the former, it is therefore superior. It is said in the Federalist, No. 78, “ Nor does the conclusion by any means suppose a superiority of the judicial to the legislative power. It only supposes that the power of the people is superior to both; and when the will of the legislature stands in opposition to that of the people, declared in the constitution, the judges ought to be governed by the latter, rather than the former. They ought to regulate their decisions by the fundamental laws, rather than by those which are not fundamental.”
When the acts of the legislative and the executive departments are found upon full consideration to be inconsistent with this fundamental law, and are so pronounced by that department entrusted with the power and compelled in duty to do so, these acts are simply void. The law, which operates upon all from the highest t.o the lowest, is made known, and all affected thereby, submit, not to the court, which announces the
We are now to inquire whether the matter of the memorial is presented to this Court in such a form and manner that it has the authority to pronounce a judgment upon the constitutional question involved.
By R. S., c. 96, § 2, cognizance is given to this Court, of pleas, real, personal and mixed, and of all civil actions between party and party, and between the State and any of the citizens thereof, or other persons, resident within it, which may be legally brought before it by original writ, writ of error, or otherwise; and may render judgment, and award execution thereon, as is or may be provided by law.
By section 3, of the same chapter, the Court has jurisdiction of capital crimes, and all other offences and misdemeanors, which shall be legally prosecuted before them.
By section 5, of the chapter referred to, the court have power to issue writs of error, certiorari, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto, and other processes and writs, to courts of inferior jurisdiction, tó corporations and individuals, which may be necessary for the furtherance of justice, and the due execution of the laws. And by section 7, the court may exercise jurisdiction, power and authority agreeably to the common law of this State, not inconsistently with the constitution, or any statute.
From these provisions of the statute, the Court derive authority to exercise jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters only when they are brought legally before it. And it is manifest, that in ascertaining whether legally brought before it or not, reference must be had to the common law of the State.
The common law of this State in its great principles is similar to that of England, excepting so far as it has been changed by statute, or as those principles of the law itself not being applicable to our altered condition and wants, have never been adopted here.
The forms of proceedings, before judiciary tribunals, are borrowéd from the country, in which the principles of the law
It is understood by all, having knowledge pf proceedings in criminal matters, that the greatest accuracy and technicality is required, and a material error therein, is an immunity to the accused.
In pleadings in civil cases, less strictness is required, and if the parties, and the frame of the original process are correct according to well settled rules, amendments are allowed in the discretion of the Court. But in these, very important distinctions are essential, in relation to the remedies attempted to be enforced for the redress of alleged wrongs. And it is proper to look at some of the doctrines appertaining to this subject as bearing upon the question before us.
“Now since all wrong may be considered as merely a privation of right, the plain and natural remedy for every species of wrong is the being put in possession of that right, whereof the party injured is deprived; or if this is impossible, by making to the sufferer satisfaction in pecuniary damages.” 3 Black. Com. 116.
The instruments whereby this remedy is obtained, are a diversity of suits and actions, which are defined to be, “ the lawful demand of one’s right.” Ib.
Bracton, in speaking of original writs, upon which all our actions are founded, declares them to be fixed and immutable, unless by authority of parliament. “ Sunt qucedam, brevia formata super certis casibus de cursu, et de communi concilio totius regni approhata'et concessa, quce quidam nulla tenus mutari poterint absque consensu et volúntate eorum.” Lib. 5, de exceptionibus, c. 17, § 2.
“ The laws adapt their redress exactly to the circumstances of the injury, and do not furnish one and the same action for different wrongs, which are impossible to be brought within one and the same description; whereby every man knows what satisfaction, he is entitled to expect from the courts of justice, and as little as possible is left to the breast of the
Certain remedies are provided by statute, either as additional to those existing at common law, or as a substitute therefor. Complaints for the flowing of lands, for the purpose of raising a head of water for the operation of mills; petitions for the partition of real estate, and the peculiar proceedings, criminal in form, but civil in substance, by which the mother of an illegitimate child may obtain against the father a judgment of filiation and for contribution to the support of such child, are examples. The statutes prescribe the forms of these proceedings in substance at least for such cases, and provide for the notice to the parties, who may be interested, and the judgment to be awarded in each, and the means by which such judgment may be made effectual.
Where the statute has not interfered to change or modify the common law, the different writs and processes, which have long been in use for the purpose of obtaining redress, have been regarded as essential modes of remedy for alleged injuries. The writs of certiorari, prohibition, mandamus and quo warranto have undergone no material change; and when they are severally the appropriate remedies for wrongful acts or neglects, in order to secure the object sought, all their peculiar characteristics and averments must be retained.
The actions, by appropriate writs, of assumpsit, of debt, of account, of trespass upon personal property and upon the person, of trover for the conversion of property, of replevin, of the case, of trespass quart clausum, and writs of entry to obtain possession of real estate, have undergone few modifications by statute, and are now remedies in legitimate use and generally resorted to, according to the nature of each alleged injury. And upon trials of the actions so commenced,
The general, and therefore the orderly parts of a suit are the original writ, or other process, with the declaration; the service upon the party adversely interested; and if there be an appearance, the pleadings in defence; the issue or demurrer ; the trial, the judgment and its incidents; the proceedings in the nature of appeal, when such is allowable; and the execution. 3 Black. Com. 272.
It is under the forms established by common law or by statute, in their essential features, that these various steps are to be taken, and become legitimate, and terminate in judgments which are decisive of the rights of the parties thereto and their privies, and are followed by an execution in some form, which is designed to give effect to the judgments in favor of the party prevailing.
Unless the Legislature have provided another remedy than those which had previous existence, a party cannot adopt for himself a new mode before unknown to the law, by which he can obtain from a court of common law a binding judgment, which can be enforced, as by an execution duly issued upon a judgment recognized by the common law.
The remedy by forms of proceedings, which are of themselves legal and in common use, will fail, unless they are appropriate to the injury alleged. Much more certainly must they fail, when they are entirely novel, and not provided for in any code of binding authority upon the courts. Eor the recovery of damages arising from the non-fulfillment of certain classes of promises, the actions of debt and assumpsit may either be proper; but in other cases, where assumpsit is a suitable remedy, a suit in a plea of debt could not be maintained.
A petition to a court of common law, having jurisdiction of the subject matter, if properly presented, alleging that the petitioner’s personal property had been wrongfully taken, and praying that the court would adjudge him to be the owner, the caption unlawful, and order its restoration, would not be entertained. A memorial to the Court, representing that the memorialist had been wrongfully deprived of the lands of which he had been seized within twenty years by the unlawful possession taken and retained by the party named in the petition, which should pray the court, after an examination of pertinent testimony to be adduced, to render a judgment in favor of the petitioner against the respondent, touching the seizin of the former and the disseizin by the latter, and an order, of restitution of the lands, is a process unknown to the law; no proceedings would be had thereon, and it could be an authority to no court under the laws of this State to take jurisdiction of the matter.
We have already seen, that, in a suit brought in a court of common law, a service upon the person or persons adversely interested is essential; without this, in some mode recognized by law, the court cannot proceed; and if, inadvertently, a judgment should be rendered, it would be a nullity or would be reversed as erroneous on proper proceedings.. Before a conclusive judgment can be rendered, which can in any manner affect another party, in the most trivial suit, that party must have legal notice of its pendency.
A judgment in defiance of the maxim, audi alteram, partem,” was said by Livingston, Justice, in the case of Hitchcock v. Fitch, 1 Caines, 460, not to deserve the name of judgment, but must be treated as a nullity, and could have no validity.
The Legislature and the Executive of the State are charged in the memorial as having done illegal and unconstitutional
On the contrary, if the constitution under the charges made against Judge Davis, gave no right to the Legislature to address the Governor for his removal, and consequently none to the Executive to make it, the power exercised by each was usurped, and their acts were really ineffectual. The people themselves, in their own fundamental law which is proclaimed in the constitution, had set bounds, which, if transcended in this and kindred matters, the servants of the people constitutionally and legally appointed remain undischarged, and their rights unimpaired; and the attempt of the people’s other servants to remove them is abortive.
To entertain jurisdiction of this memorial, and to proceed to a consideration and decision of the questions embraced, is one of the highest and most responsible trusts, which can be executed by this Court. A judgment under legal proceedings, fully authorized between the parties to a suit, wherein such questions are necessarily involved, would be conclusive upon such parties. It would be equally so, under such authorized proceedings and suph issues, if the State and a Judge attempted to be removed, were the parties before the Court.
This Court is informed, in the memorial and by the documents in the case, of all the acts of the coordinate branches of the government, alleged therein to be irregular, unlawful and unconstitutional. This representation is made in no form or process known to the common law, or the statutes, by which we can be bound, or which will enable us to act in the premises. The memorialist has caused no process connected with the memorial to be served upon any one, whether adversely interested or otherwise. No department of the government or officer thereof has appeared voluntarily, and claimed to be heard. The memorialist is the only party before us. It may not be his fault, that it is so. On the contrary, it is evident, that in an attempt to cause another party to be brought before the Court, difficulties would have met him. But this inability on his part, under the circumstances which are presented, will not of itself confer a jurisdiction upon the Court. In what form or by what authority, either of law or precedent, a judgment under the memorial, having the material charac
Whether the acts of the Senate, House of Representatives, and the Governor, complained of, were illegal or unconstitutional, or not, for reasons already given, is a question which we cannot regard as before us, so as to authorize any judgment, which can have the effect to place Judge Davis in the situation which he insists he is entitled to hold, or to compromit in the slightest degree any right which he or any other party may now possess. The question is so important, affecting so many interests and to such extent, that an opinion of this Court thereon, as it is now presented, can be attended with no useful results, inasmuch as the opinion can but be regarded by us as ineffectual, and not concluding the rights of any. We abstain from all consideration of the great matter attempted to be brought before us for adjudication, wholly for want of jurisdiction, which we are fully satisfied we cannot entertain, under the process, and the case generally, as presented. And for reasons just mentioned, it is equally our intention to withhold all intimation of what the decision would be, touching the rights of the memorialist, if presented under appropriate legal proceedings, which would at the same time give the Court the right, and require the exercise of it, in the discharge of a duty, to make a decision upon the same questions, which would of necessity be binding as well upon the coordinate branches of the government, as upon other parties, who might be parties to the controversy.
When a case shall come before this tribunal, involving these important inquiries, whether between a Judge of this Court, attempted to be removed, and the State, or the branches of the government which made the attempt, under a writ of quo warranto or other process recognized by law, which will confer jurisdiction; or in the more usual forms of law between private parties, where the removal of such an officer of the government is a matter at issue; it is believed, that the Court will, as it should do in the discharge of all its official du
Judge Davis, in his memorial, claims to be a member of this Court, notwithstanding the proceedings of the Senate and House of Representatives and of the Governor and Council in relation to his alleged removal.
If these proceedings are unconstitutional, he is still a member of this Court, unless he waives his objections to them. He does not waive his objections, but claims to be recognized by this Court as one of its members, and to have his share of its duties assigned to him. In my opinion, it is the right and the duty of the Court to determine who are its members.
It may be an ex parte proceeding from necessity, because there is no other party to be summoned to answer to him. Neither the Senate or House, or Governor or Council can be considered as a party. It is analogous to “ monstrans de droit.” “ When the right of the party as well as the right of the crown appears upon record, then the party shall have monstrans de droit, which is putting in a claim grounded upon facts already acknowledged and established, and praying the judgment of the Court, whether upon these facts the king or the subject hath the right.” 3 Black. Com. 256, c. 17.
In this case, there is no controversy about the facts. One who has been a member of the Court and still claims to be a member, upon these facts raises a question of constitutional law, and asks the Court to declare its opinion upon that question, as one in which he is deeply interested, and one in which this Court and the public are interested.
I think it suitable and proper for the Court to entertain the memorial and to express an opinion upon the question.