Oliver v. Town

24 Wis. 512 | Wis. | 1869

Cole, J.

We can imagine no substantial objection to a circuit judge, either during Ms term or after his term of office has expired, settling a bill of exceptions outside of the judicial circuit for which he is elected and where the cause is tried. A circuit judge is a state officer, and has power, and is often called upon, to try causes out of his own circuit. Since the organization of the state government, the circuit judges have been accustomed to exchange in holding terms with their brethren on the bench, and their right and power so to do have been unquestioned, so far as we know. What valid reason can there be why a circuit judge may not try a cause in another circuit ? And if he may try a cause in another circuit, why may he not settle a bill of exceptions outside his circuit, either during his term or after it has expired? It is said that it will work a hardship for parties to go outside their circuit to transact such judicial matters before a judge who is away from home on pleasure or business. But such cases of real hardship will rarely, if ever, occur.

In this case the notice designated the senate chamber as a place for the settlement of the bill of exceptions, the attorney who gave the notice, and the judge who tried the canse, happening to be senators. Now it is said that the place designated for the settlement of the bill was an improper one, for the reason that the senate might possibly be in session at the honr named, in which case the opposite attorney wonld have no right to admission on the floor of the senate, and, consequently, could have no voice in the settlement of the bill. This objection is based upon a state of things which is not likely to exist. It is hardly to be assumed that the ex-judge, if the senate should happen to be in session at the hour designated for the settlement of the bill, would not retire to some place where both parties could be heard. The opposite party was not prevented from taking part in the settlement of the bill in this case by any of the difficulties above suggested.

There is, however, an objection taken to the manner of settling the bill, which, we think, is fatal. The judge signed the bill, and then wrote on the foot of it, “The whole charge of the judge, as given to the jury, to be inserted in the bill of exceptions.” The bill of exceptions, therefore, when signed, was not complete on its face, nor did it refer to certain documents on file showing what should be inserted. It was therefore imperfect, not containing every thing necessary to show the exceptions taken. The attorneys might differ as to what the charge was ; and there would be no means of settling the controversy. The judge, therefore, should see to it that the charge upon which any question arises is either inserted in the bill or made a part of it by certain reference, before he signs it, in order that no dispute of the kind'may arise. It is said that, since the statute requiring the circuit judges to give their charges in writing, the written charge becomes a part of the record. If the judge had referred to his written charge on file among the papers in the cause, as the one he intended should be inserted, this reference, by relation, might have made the charge a part of the bill when signed. But, to avoid all controversy, it is the better practice for the judge to see that whatever is necessary to present the questions of law and fact be inserted in the bill before it is signed by him.

It is said, if the bill was irregularly and improperly settled, that the remedy is by a motion in this court to strike it out. The appeal was not taken until the 26th of February last, while the motion to strike the bill from the files was heard and determined on the 18th of the same month. The circuit court had jurisdiction of the cause at that time, and should, for the reason just assigned, have granted the motion.

By the Court. — The order of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause remanded with directions to grant the motion.