In the MATTER OF Judge Pamela J. WHITE
Misc. No. 5, Sept. Term, 2016
Court of Appeals of Maryland.
February 22, 2017
155 A.3d 463
CONCLUSION
We apply the economic loss doctrine and decline to impose tort liability on Engineer for purely economic injuries alleged by Contractor that was neither in privity nor suffered physical injury or risk of physical injury. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the Court of Special Appeals.
JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS AFFIRMED. COSTS TO BE PAID BY PETITIONER.
Bruce L. Marcus (Marcus Bonsib, LLC, Greenbelt, MD), for respondent.
Argued before Barbera, C.J., Greene, Adkins, McDonald, Hotten, Getty, Glenn T. Harrell, Jr. (Senior Judge, Specially Assigned), JJ.
Per Curiam Opinion
In this case, we must decide—initially—whether there is any mechanism for this Court to review the fundamental fairness of a proceeding conducted by the Commission on Judicial Disabilities (“Commission“) when the Commission disciplines a judge in the sole manner in which the Constitution authorizes it to do without referring the matter to this Court. We hold that there is such a mechanism—the common law writ of mandamus. Our review in this particular case awaits the provision by the Commission of the record of its proceedings.
I
Background
A. Discipline or Removal of Judges
The State Constitution provides a special process for the discipline, removal, or involuntary retirement of a judgе who commits misconduct or who is found to suffer from a disabili
The General Assembly has codified and elaborated in statute some of the powers conferred on the Commission by the Constitution for its investigations and hearings.
The Constitution delegates to the Court of Appeals the task of prescribing the rules that govern the Commission‘s investigations and proceedings.
Pursuant to the Constitution, this Court has adopted rules governing the Commission‘s investigations, hearings, and other proceedings. Those rules are currently codified in
The rules provide a judge accused of misconduct with various procedural rights in connection with the Commission‘s hearing on the charges.
The Commission is to make findings of fact under a clear and convincing standard of proof and either dismiss the charges, reprimand the judge, or refer the matter to the Court of Appeals for other discipline.
B. Proceeding Before the Commission Concerning Judge White
Although we have not yet been provided with the Commission‘s record in this matter, we understand from the parties’ submissions and selected documents posted on the Commis
1. Alleged Judicial Misconduct in Joyner v. Veolia Transportation Services
This case traces its genesis to several hearings during 2014 in a civil action in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City over which Judge Pamela J. White presided. Louise V. Joyner v. Veolia Transportation Servs. Inc., et al. Case No. 24C14000589 (Baltimore City Circuit Court). Rickey Nelson Jones represented the plaintiff in that matter. Although not pertinent to our disposition of the legal question before us, we summarize briefly the рroceedings in that litigation that resulted in the complaint against Judge White, as found by the Commission in its order in the case before us.
Hearing on Motion to Dismiss Punitive Damages Claim—May 5, 2014
The Joyner matter came before Judge White on May 5, 2014, for a hearing on the defendant‘s motion to dismiss the plaintiff‘s claim for punitive damages. During Mr. Jones’ argument on behalf of the plaintiff, Judge White, in a raised voice, stated to Mr. Jones, “[a]re you telling me with a straight face, as an officer of the court, that the actions of an insurance adjuster from another company [, i.e., a company that was not an insurer of the defendant] should be attributed to defendant Veolia?” Mr. Jones answered in the affirmative. Judge White then asked, “[d]o you have any legal authority that givеs you the chutzpah6 to claim punitive damages in a negligence case for actions by an adjuster not employed by Veolia that would have allowed me to attribute ill will to Veolia?” The Commission later found that, during this exchange, “Judge White
Pretrial Conference; Show Cause Order for Plaintiff‘s Failure to Attend
During 2014, Judge White was also in charge of the Circuit Court‘s Civil Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR“) Program. On September 17, 2014, a pretrial conference was held in the Joyner matter in accordance with the ADR Program. Jeff Trueman, Deputy Director of the ADR Program, and Senior Judge Paul Alpert conducted the pretrial conference. Counsel for defendant Veolia, a corporate representative of defendant Veolia, and Mr. Jones attended. Mr. Jones’ client, Ms. Joyner, did not attend the pretrial conference—a violation of the Circuit Court‘s scheduling order.
On October 9, 2014, Judge White issued a show cause order in the Joyner matter. The order required that Ms. Joyner and Mr. Jones personally appear on October 31, 2014, and show cause as to why they should not be held in constructive civil contempt for failing to comply with the requirement of the Circuit Court‘s scheduling order that Ms. Joyner attend the pretrial conference.7
Trial Date and Postponement—October 15, 2014
By coincidence, the Joyner matter was scheduled for trial, also before Judge White, on October 15, 2014. On that day, Mr. Jones asked for a postponement and also asked Judge White to recuse herself from the case. Judge White heard
Judge White ultimately decided to recuse herself from the trial of the Joyner case, but not from the show cause hearing related to the pretrial conference. In addressing Mr. Jones’ motion for her recusal, Judge White stated in part:
... [B]ecause I am incredulous, because I am in disbelief, because I find myself incapable of believing virtually anything that Mr. Jones has just told me, I‘m in the unfamiliar territory of finding that I must recuse myself from any further proceedings in this case because I cannоt believe anything that the Reverend Rickey Nelson Jones Esquire8—I‘m reading off the letterhead—tells me. I think that 99% of what Mr. Jones has told me about his conduct on behalf of his client is pure bullshit[.] So I‘m forced to recuse myself and I can‘t get past the idea that I cannot believe a darn thing that Mr. Jones tells me now. So I am compelled under ... Rule 2.11 [of the Maryland Code of Judicial Conduct]9 to disqualify myself in any further proceedings in this case, because I now believe based on Mr. Jones’ conduct and representations in this case, in his discussion and exploration of who struck John in recent days about his request for accommodation, all without following the precise instructions and procedures in the Scheduling Order and the website and resоurces available to him, I find that I cannot be impartial. I am personally biased or prejudiced concerning Mr. Jones and his conduct. So, I‘m going to recuse myself.
I am dumbfounded at your irresponsible behavior, Mr. Jones. All the more reason I am compelled by your dumbfounding behavior to recuse myself because I cannot believe a single word you say. And what I am compelled to do now because the Rules of Professional Conduсt and the Judicial Code compel me to do so is to reexamine what I just said and heard and reported on the record whether I must report you to the Attorney Grievance Commission.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge White stated:
... As for you, Mr. Jones, I have no way of knowing whether my pique and my frustration as to your performance in recent days will warrant my recusal in any further and future cases pending before this court. I take each case as it comes ... While I‘m shocked, frustrated, appalled, and consequently don‘t believe anything Mr. Jones has told me about the conduct of his office and himself in this case, and I don‘t believe that he has honored the court‘s orders in this case, I don‘t understand or believe that necessarily will carry over to any future other casеs. I will take each case as it comes.
Notwithstanding her decision to recuse herself from the trial of the Joyner case, Judge White stated that she would preside over the October 31, 2014, hearing regarding the show cause order she had issued because, as she stated, it was her “responsibility to address it.”
On October 15, 2014, Mr. Jones filed an Emergency Motion with Circuit Administrative Judge W. Michel Pierson for
Trial of the Joyner Case
The Joyner case went to trial the following week, on October 20, 2014, before another judge of the Circuit Court and resulted in a defense verdict. Ms. Joyner pursued an appeal to the Court of Special Appeals, which remains pending.
Show Cause Hearing—October 31, 2014
At the October 31, 2014, show cause hearing, Mr. Jones defended his attempt to excuse his client‘s absence from the pretrial conference. Mr. Jones contended that he had in fact complied with the rules because he had requested in his pretrial statement that Ms. Joyner be excused from the pretrial conference due to her health issues. When Mr. Jones cited case law purportedly in support of this contention, Judge White noted “[h]ow interesting that [the case is] captioned as an Attorney Grievance complaint.” The Commission later noted in its Findings of Fact:
At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge White found [Mr.] Jones in contempt for his failure and refusal to comply with the Scheduling Order and pre-trial conference procedures. She stated that [Mr.] Jones’ argument that he complied with the Scheduling Order was “shocking” and was “soundly and roundly rejected.” During her oral ruling, and by written order dated November 12, 2014, Judge White ordered [Mr.] Jones to pay attorney‘s fees to opposing counsel, related to his appearing at the pre-trial conference and the show cause hearing, and to write letters of apology to Mr. Trueman and to Judge Alpert for his “rude and uncivil behavior” at the pre-trial conference. Judge White made no mention at any time during the October 31, 2014 hearing, or within the written order, that she had previously recused herself from the Joyner case filed by [Mr.] Jones on behalf of Ms. Joyner.
We are advised that Mr. Jones appealed the contempt оrder in the Joyner case.
Mr. Jones filed multiple complaints concerning Judge White with the Commission beginning on October 20, 2014. Following an investigation, and with the authorization of the Commission, Investigative Counsel filed charges dated March 31, 2016 against Judge White. Investigative Counsel alleged that Judge White had violated various provisions of the Maryland Code of Judicial Conduct.11 All of the charges concerned Judge White‘s conduct during the three hearings in the Joyner case during 2014.
3. Pre-Hearing Proceedings Concerning the Charges
Judge White filed an Answer to the charges on May 2, 2016. In her answer, Judge White offered a detailed recitation of the proceedings before her in the Joyner case and denied that her actions or statements during the hearings violated the Code of Judicial Conduct. Judge White also filed a motion to dismiss the charges. Among othеr things, Judge White argued that the pending appeal before the Court of Special Appeals in the Joyner case concerned related issues and that the Commission‘s proceeding on Mr. Jones’ complaints against her had not complied with the procedural rules governing Commission proceedings.
Judge White also directed discovery requests to Investigative Counsel pursuant to the civil discovery rules. The Chair of the Commission struck requests for admission and interrogatories propounded by Judge White on the ground that Investigative Counsel was not a “party” for purposes of the discovery rules. Judge White appealed that ruling to the full Commission.
After holding a hearing on the motion to dismiss on June 27, 2016, the Commission denied the motion, adoрting the re
4. Evidentiary Hearing and Commission Order
On July 7 and 8, 2016, the Commission conducted an evidentiary hearing on the charges. On August 3, 2016, the Commission issued Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and an Order of Public Reprimand. The Commission found by clear and convincing evidence that Judge White had committed sanctionable conduct. In particular, the Commission found that Judgе White‘s treatment of Mr. Jones at the May 5, 2014 and October 15, 2014 hearings violated a provision of the Maryland Code of Judicial Conduct that requires judges to conduct themselves in a way that promotes public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary.12 The Commission also found that Judge White‘s participation in the October 31, 2014 show cause hearing, after she had admitted to bias toward Mr. Jones, violated not only that provision, but several other provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct that require a judge to act impartially and to disqualify himself or herself from proceedings in which the judge‘s impartiality might reasonably be questioned.13 The Commission determined that
C. Proceedings After the Commission‘s Order
On Seрtember 1, 2016, Judge White filed with this Court a pleading entitled “Appeal and, in the Alternative, Petition for Writ of Certiorari.” In this filing, Judge White sought to have us review two issues: (1) whether the Commission had denied her procedural due process; and (2) whether the Commission had erred in finding sanctionable conduct and reprimanding her.
With respect to the claim of a denial of due process, Judge White asserted that she was not notified of Mr. Jones’ various complaints for many months, that she was not provided with a copy of the Judicial Inquiry Board‘s report in a timely manner, that her written response to the charges may not have been provided to the Commission, that she was denied pre-hearing discovery to which she was entitled, and that her presentation of evidence at the hearing was unfairly restricted. With respect to the Commission‘s finding of sanctionable conduct and imposition of a reprimand, Judge White challenged the Commission‘s decision to the extent it was based on her decision not to recuse herself from the show cause hearing in the Joyner case after she had recused herself from the trial of that case.
On September 28, 2016, this Cоurt ordered that the matter be set for a show cause hearing for the limited purpose of addressing the following questions related to the first issue raised by Judge White:
- Whether this Court has jurisdiction to decide whether [Judge White] was denied procedural due process during the Commission proceedings where the ultimate disposition of the Commission was a public reprimand?
- Whether, if the Court has such jurisdiction, the Commission failed to comply with the Maryland Rules governing its proceedings such that [Judge White] was denied procedural due process during those proceedings?
The Court held oral argument on November 4, 2016. In this opinion we address the first question. Resolution of the second question awaits the filing of the Commission‘s record with us and any further submissions by the pаrties.
II
Discussion
The immediate question before us is whether there is any mechanism for us to review Commission proceedings when the Commission determines that a reprimand is the appropriate discipline—a form of discipline that the Constitution authorizes the Commission to impose on its own without referring the matter to us.
We hold that there is no constitutional or statutory basis for this Court to exercise appellate jurisdiction to review the Commission‘s proceedings. We do have original jurisdiction, however, to conduct a limited review, pursuant to a common
A. Whether an Accused Judge is Entitled to Procedural Due Process
There is no question that a judge under investigation by the Commission or charged by the Commission with misconduct is entitled to due process. As outlined earlier,
There is also no question that, when the Commission recommends certain types of discipline to this Court—censure, removal, or other discipline—our review may include the fairness of the Commission proceeding. For example, in the first reported case concerning a Commission recommendation—a rеcommendation for censure of two judges—this Court considered a due process challenge to the Commission proceedings. See In re Diener, 268 Md. 659, 671, 677-79, 304 A.2d 587 (1973) (adopting, with some editing, the Commission‘s analysis why its procedures did not violate the judges’ right to procedural due process). While this Court concluded that the proceedings in that case accorded the judges due process, the
Under the Constitution and our rules, an accused judge is entitled to these elements of procedural due process—notice, an opportunity to respond, a fair hearing—regardless of the outcome—i.e., whether the Commission ultimately decides to dismiss the charges, reprimand the judge, or recommend that we censure, discipline, or remove the judge. Of course, a minor deviation from the rules without prejudice to the judge would not undermine this guarantee. To paraphrase a principle sometimes stated in the context of criminal proceedings, an accused judge is entitled to a fair proceeding, but not necessarily a perfect proceeding.14 Nor does the promise of a fair process entitle a judge to any particular outcome in a given case.
B. Whether There is a Mode of Review
The question before us is whether there is any opportunity for review of the fairness of a Commission proceeding when the Commission elects to reprimand a judge itself in lieu of recommending other discipline by the Court of Appeals.
1. Appeal and Certiorari
Judge White has characterized her request for review in the alternative as either an appeal or a petition for a writ of certiorari. “It is an often stated principle of Maryland law that appellate jurisdiction, except as constitutionally authorized, is
With respect to granting a writ of certiorari, this Court‘s authority is set forth in
Except as [limited by] § 12-202 of this subtitle, in any case or proceeding pending in or decided by the Court of Special Appeals upon appeal from a circuit court or an orphans’ court or the Maryland Tax Court, any party, including the State, may file in the Court of Appeals a petition for certiorari to review the case or proceeding. The petition may be filed either before or after the Court of Special Appeals has rendered a decision, but nоt later than the time prescribed by the Maryland Rules. In a case or proceeding described in this section, the Court of Appeals also may issue the writ of certiorari on its own motion.
(emphasis added). As is evident, at a minimum, a case must be “pending in or decided by the Court of Special Appeals upon appeal from a circuit court or an orphans’ court or the Maryland Tax Court” in order for this Court to grant a writ of certiorari. This case does not satisfy that criterion. Thus,
2. Common Law Mandamus
While there is no appellate jurisdiction for review of Judge White‘s claims, this Court is able to review her allegation that the Commission proceeding denied her proсedural due process as a petition for a common law writ of mandamus. Although Judge White‘s filing in this Court was entitled “Appeal and, in the Alternative, Petition for Writ of Certiorari,” the filing‘s label does not prevent this Court from treating the filing as a
Nature of Mandamus
“Mandamus is an original action, as distinguished from an appeal.” Goodwich v. Nolan, 343 Md. 130, 145, 680 A.2d 1040 (1996) (citation and quotation omitted). It is “an extraordinary remedy that is generally used to compel inferior tribunals, public officials or administrative agencies to perform their function, or perform some particular duty imposed upon them which in its nature is imperative and to the performance of which the party applying for the writ has a clear legal right. The writ ordinarily does not lie where the action to be
Review of Claim that Commission Denied Due Process
As outlined above, the Commission has a duty to provide procedural due process, as set forth in the State Constitution and Maryland Rules, to an accused judge who is the subject of one of its proceedings. Thus, under a writ of mandamus, this Court may prоperly review Judge White‘s claim that the Commission deprived her of procedural due process. Were it otherwise, the fundamental fairness embodied in the process set out in the Constitution and rules could be an empty promise.
Review of Merits of Reprimand
Our review under a writ of mandamus, however, is limited. The Constitution and our rules provide for the Commission to issue a reprimand without approval or review by this Court. The Commission‘s decision to issue a public reprimand is properly classified as a non-ministerial discretionary
III
Conclusion
For the reasons stated above, we conclude that this Court has authority to consider Judge White‘s arguments as to whether the Commission proceeding accorded her with the due process required by the Maryland Constitution and the Maryland Rules. However, we are not able at this juncture to conduct that review.
The Commission has not responded in any detail to Judge White‘s contentions that she did not receive the process she was due. At oral argument, counsel for the Commission expressed some hesitation about responding specifically to the arguments of Judge White concerning the Commission‘s alleged deviations from the Maryland Rules, given the confidentiality that clothes much of the Commission‘s pre-charging activities. To a certain extent, that concern is well taken. See
The statement of charges and the proceedings before the Commission that followed the filing of the statement of charges are not confidential.
In order to carry out the review of Commission proceedings for which we have jurisdiction, we direct the Commission to file the record of the proceedings concerning its charges against Judge White, including that part of its record relating to the pre-charging period for which Judge White waives confidentiality. Once the record has been filed with the Court, the parties shall submit additional briefs and an appropriate record extract, according to a schedule set forth by future order of the Court. Such briefing shall be limited to the question of whether the Commission proceedings failed to comply with the Constitution and Maryland Rules and, if so, whether any such failure affected the fundamental fairness of the proceeding.
IT IS SO ORDERED.