140 N.W. 710 | N.D. | 1913
Written accusations have been filed in this court, asking for the disbarment of an attorney at law. The accusations are in part based upon the records in several cases heretofore before this court on appeal, and in which litigation this attorney was a party or attorney of record. Two of these parties litigant employed counsel, and caused to be prepared and presented a lengthy written accusation, subscribed by them but verified by one of their attorneys. After careful consideration of the charges made, and in the exercise of its discretion in the matter, this court decided to entertain the disbarment proceeding, and directed the filing of the accusations and the service of a copy thereof upon the accused. Service was made. The accused then filed a written motion, asking the dismissal of the accusations, and that the same be stricken from the files of this court, upon the grounds “that the accusations are not sworn to by the. parties making the accusations, as required by § 507 of the Revised Codes of 1905; and that the attorney who swears to the accusations on information and belief affirmatively discloses that his information is derived from hearsay, secondary and inadmissible evidence in this proceeding, and not upon information of the probative facts as to the matters and things alleged in said accusations.” Hearing was had upon this motion, and this court renders its decision thereon in the following opinion :
Sec. 507, referred to, reads: “The proceeding to remove or suspend an attorney may be commenced by direction of the court or on motion of any individual. In the former case the court must direct some attorney to draw up the accusation; in the latter the accusation must be drawn up and sworn to by the person making it.” It is
It is contended that if the accusation can be verified by an attorney, it must be upon positive knowledge, and not upon information and belief, to comply with the statute. In support of this is cited Re Hotchkiss, 58 Cal. 39 ; People ex rel. Wright v. Lamborn, 2 Ill. 125 ; Re McCraney, 102 Cal. 467, 36 Pac. 812 ; Re Sayre, — Cal. —, 36 Pac. 813 ; and Re Weed, 26 Mont. 241, 67 Pac. 308.
This objection fails when we find the verification is not made wholly upon information and belief. As a part of said verification, nearly two typewritten pages of alleged facts are positively stated upon which such belief is said to be founded, and therein calling attention to the files of this court and its opinions in two cases found in vol. 122 N. W. Reporter; reciting also as evidence certain files of the district court
The moving party is directed to serve his answer or demurrer to said accusations upon the attorney for the accusers, and file the same so served with the clerk of this court within thirty days from the date ■of notice of filing of this opinion and order.