Sanborn v. Fellows

Bell, J.

It is so obvious a principle of justice, that all persons who are to act as judges, should be impartial, without any interest of their own in the matter in controversy, and without any such connexion with the parties in interest, as would be likely, improperly, to influence their judgment, that it is hardly possible to doubt that such impartiality was required by the Common Law. Blackstone, (8 Comm. 361,) says: “By the Civil and Canon Laws, a judge might be refused upon any suspicion of partiality. By the laws of England, also, in the times of Bracton (l. 5, c. 15,) and Eleta (l. 6, c. 37,) a judge might be refused for good cause ; but now the law is otherwise, and it is held, that judges and justices cannot be challenged; ” and for this position, he cites Co. Litt. 294 a. Coke so states the law, but he cites no authority for that position, and his opinion, great as its weight is admitted to be, is not sufficient to overrule Bracton and Eleta, as to the ancient law, or to prove that a change has been made in it, subversive of the first principles of justice. The books abound with cases, in which it is decided, that judges are disqualified to act by any, the least, interest in the matter to be decided, and render it clear to us, that the common law, of the time of Bracton and Eleta, has always been, and still is, the law, though it may, perhaps, be literally true, that judges cannot be challenged in the manner of jurors. We should not expect to find many cases, where this question has arisen in relation to that class of officers usually called judges, because any attempt by such a person to act as a judge, in a case in which he was personally interested, or in which any of his near relatives are interested, would be so grossly indecent and improper that it would be at once condemned by public opinion.

The question as to the disqualification, arising either from interest or relationship, has most frequently been raised in relation to jurors,' who are not presumed to be familiar with the law, or aware, as judges ought to be without challenge, in what cases they ought to withdrawtpr excuse themselves.

In their case, we find the law laid down with great clearness by Lord Coke, and upon abundant authority. (Co. Litt; 157 a.) “ If the juror be of blood or kindred to either party, he is disqualified, for that the law presumes, that one kinsman doth favor another before a stranger ; and how far remote soever he is of kindred, the challenge is goQd, and it is no counterplea to say, that he is of kindred also to the plaintiff, though he be in a nearer degree, for that the words of the venire facias forbiddeth the juror to be of kindred to either party. Affinity by marriage is a principal challenge, and equivalent to consanguinity, when it is between either of the parties ; as if the plaintiff or defendant marry the daughter or cousin of the juror, or the juror marry the daughter or cousin of the plaintiff or defendant, and the same continues or issue be had.” 7 Cowen, 479, note (a).

The rule is laid down less broadly in 3 Black. Comm. 363, and 2 Tidd’s Prac. 780, citing Finch’s Law, 401, thus : a principal challenge is such, where the cause assigned carries with it evident marks of suspicion, either of malice or favor; as that a juror is of kin to either party, within the ninth degi'ee, &c., which, if true, cannot be overruled; for jurors must be omni exceptions mayores.

The general principle, as to the disqualification of jurors, by relationship, is recognized here by the Provincial Statute, (Prov. Laws, 1771,191,) 9 N. H. Hep. 65, and by the Revised Statutes, chap. 176, § 21, which provide, that any juror may be required by the Court to answer upon oath, “ whether he is related to either party.” But we are not aware that this objection has in this country been extended to every degree of relationship, or to relationship so remote as the ninth degree. Many cases have been decided upon this principle of the common law in this country. Cain v. Ingham, 7 Cowen, 478 ; Churchill v. Churchill, 12 Vermont, 661; Rank v. Shervey, 4 Watts, 218; Hinchman v. Clark, Cox, 446; Paddock v. Wells, 2 Barb. Ch. Rep. 331; Eggleston v. Smiley, 17 Johns. 133.

The principle on which a juror is disqualified by interest, is laid down by Lord Mansfield in Haskett v. Braddock, 3 Burr. 1847, in such terms as must apply with equal force to the case of relationship as to interest, and to the case of judges as to jurors.. The action was brought for a fine, incurred by a breach of a by-law of the City of Chester, prohibiting persons not freemen, from trading in the city. It was brought in the Portmote Court, there held before the Mayor. It appeared, that the custom required, that the sheriff and jurors, as well as the Mayor, should be freemen. There was a challenge to the array, as well as to the favor, which was overruled by the Court. Lord Mansfield, C. J. “ We are all of the opinion, that neither the sheriff nor the jury were competent; and the challenge was improperly overruled at the Portmote Court. There is no principle of law more settled than this, that any degree, even the smallest, of interest in the question depending, is a decisive objection to a witness, and much more to a juror, or to the officer by whom the jury is returned. The law has so watchful an eye to the pure and unbiased administration of justice, that it will never trust the passions of mankind in the decision of any matter of right. If, therefore, the sheriff, a juror or a witness, be in any sort interested in the matter to be tried, the law considers him as under an influence, that may warp his integrity or pervert his judgment, and therefore will not trust him.” He adds : “ In the case of Day v. Savage, Hob. 87, the suit was an action of trespass between two persons, but an issue being taken upon a custom of London, ‘ for every freeman to be discharged of wharfage,’ the Court would not suffer the custom to be proved by the recorder, [the principal judge of the city]; and on this occasion they held, that where the issue concerns the corporation, though they are not directly parties to the suit, if they are to make the panel, or any of their body are to go upon the jury, it is a cause of challenge.”

It is easy to perceive, what would have been the decision, if the question raised had related, as it might have done, to the judge below, instead of the sheriff and jurors; or if the influence “ that might warp the integrity or pervert the judgment ” of either, were that of kindred, instead of a minute corporate interest.

In commenting upon this case, Ch. J.Parker, says: “ There can be no doubt, that the principle applies with equal strength to judges or magistrates, as to jurors.” Pearce v. Atwood, 18 Mass. 341, and Gilchrist, J., in Russell v. Perry, 14 N. H. Rep. 154, says, of this case: “ Although a judge or magistrate is not, in terms, comprehended within this general exclusion on account of interest, the principle applies with equal strength to them.”'

Numerous cases support the principle, that any interest whatever disqualifies a judge, as Com. Dig. Justices, I. 3 ; Anon. 1 Salk. 397; 2 Salk. 607; Hard. 503; 12 Mod. 669; Bonham's case, 8 Go. Rep. 118 ; Pearce v. Atwood, 13 Mass. 324; Bates v. Thompson, 2 Chip. 99; 5 Mass. 92; 6 Pick. 109 ; Gorril v. Whittin, 3 N. H. Rep. 265 ; Russell v. Perry, 14 N. H. Rep. 152; Ins. Co. v. Price, Hopk. 1, &c.

Though the decisions are not numerous, which establish the proposition that a judge is disqualified to act as such in a case where he is a relative of either of the parties, they lead clearly to the conclusion, that the same rule applies to a judge, as to a juror.

In New York, a doubt was suggested on this point, in Pierce v. Sheldon, 13 Johns. 191, which followed McDowell v. Van Deusen, 12 Johns. 356, in which it was held, that a judge cannot be'excepted to or challenged for corruption, upon the authority of Coke. (1 Inst. 294; 2 Inst. 422); but in Bellows v. Pierson, 19 Johns. 172, the Court held, that the fact, that the justice before whom a suit was brought was the son-in-law of the plaintiff, and that he persisted to hear and decide the cause, notwithstanding the defendant objected to his jurisdiction, on the ground of his relationship to the plaintiff, is itself evidence that the trial was not fair and impartial; and in the Court of Errors, two of the senators and judges were allowed to withdraw from their seats; one on the ground that he was interested; the other, because he was related to persons having an interest. Ins. Co. v. Livingston, 3 Cowen, 713. These cases preceded the passage of tlm Revised Statutes of New York, which provide, that no judge of any court can sit as such in any cause in which he would be excluded from being a juror, by reason of consanguinity or affinity to either of the parties. 2 Rev. Stat. 275 ; see 9 N. H. Rep. 66. This enactment seems to us but a restoration of the common law, and was probably occasioned by the decisions, which had cast a doubt upon the principle.

In Foot v. Morgan, 1 Hill, 654, it was held, that a justice cannot act in a cause, in which the real party in interest, though not the nominal party, has married the sister of the justice’s wife. In the matter of Sapper, 5 Paige, Ch. Rep. 489, and Underhill v. Dennis, 9 Paige, 202, it was held, that this statute did not apply to a case where the relative of the judge has no personal interest; and in Paddock v. Wells, 2 Bar. Ch. Rep. 331, it is held, that the proper course for a judge, when he is satisfied of the fact of his relationship to either of the parties in interest in the suit, although there be nothing before him at the time to show the existence of the relationship, is to refuse to hear, unless both parties, upon being informed of the facts, join in a request to hear and decide it; or unless it be a case, where, under the Constitution, no other judge or tribunal can hear the cause.

In Connecticut, by statute, (Laws of Cornu424, ed. 1808,) no person can sit as a judge in any case, where a relationship exists between him and a party, in the degree of father and son, brother and brother, or uncle and nephew; and a like statute exists in Vermont, (9 N. H. Rep. 66,) and in Winchester v. Hindsdale, (12 Conn. 88,) it was held', that where a party to a suit had married the aunt of the judge, but she died before the suit was brought, leaving children who were living at the trial, the judge was not disqualified.

In Bayard v. McLane, 3 Harr. 139, in Delaware, it was held, that the relationship of brother-in-law to a party in a cause, is a legal exception to a judge, and disqualifies him from sitting in the cause.

In Waterhouse v. Martin, Peck. 374, it is held, that “ by the Constitution of Tennesee, the consent of both parties is necessary to qualify a judge to sit in a cause, when he would otherwise be incompetent by reason of consanguinity or affinity. The affinity which disqualifies a judge must extend to himself; if it only extends to his relations, it is too remote, and the degree which disqualifies is to be decided by the Court. It does not rest with the judge alone, whose right to sit is questioned.” The provision of the Constitution of Tennesee referred to, is as follows: “No judge of the Supreme or inferior Courts shall preside on the trial of any cause in the event of which he may be interested; or where either of the parties shall be connected with him by affinity or consanguinity within such degrees as may be prescribed by law ; in which he shall have been of counsel, or in which he may have presided in any inferior court, except by consent of all the parties.” In our view this is but an affirmance of the common law, and in effect, the same as the 35th article of our own Bill of Rights, which declares, that “ It is essential to the preservation of the rights of every individual, his life, liberty, property and character, that there be an impartial interpretation of the laws, and administration of justice. It is the right of every citizen to be tried by judges as impartial as the lot of humanity will admit.”

This question can hardly be deemed an open one in New Hampshire. In the case of Bean v. Quimby, 5 N. H. Rep. 98, it was decided that an uncle of one of the parties was disqualified by the relationship to take a deposition to be used in the case. In Gear v. Smith, 9 N. H. Rep. 63, where a poor, debtor had applied to two justices to be permitted to take the poor debtor’s oath, and one of the justices was his uncle, but no objection was made on that account, because the fact was not known to the creditor, in a suit upon the debtor’s bond, the discharge was held invalid, because the uncle was disqualified by the relationship, to act as one of the justices.

In Whicher v. Whicher, 11 N. H. Rep. 350, where the general principle was involved in the question, whether one who had acted as counsel for a party in that cause, was qualified to take depositions to be used on the trial, the learned judge says : “We are not aware that Courts have ever admitted the power of a magistrate to perform any official act, in relation to a matter in which he had a pecuniary interest, or where he had been so connected with' either of the parties as to throw a suspicion on his impartiality; ” and showing very conclusively, that “ the duty of a magistrate, in taking a deposition, is essentially judicial in its character: ” he adds, “ to hold that a magistrate, invested with such varied powers, should not be as impartial as the lot of humanity will admit, is to apply to him a rule, which never obtains in any other case, where men are appointed to decide upon the rights of others. He should certainly be as impartial as a juror, and like him should be omni exceptions ma^ore”

In 1643, the General Court of Massachusetts, whose jurisdiction then extended over New Hampshire, passed a law on this subject, which remained in force when the connexion of the two Provinces ceased, and we believe has ever since remained in force, as part of the common law here. It is as follows :

“ For preventing of occasions of partial and undue proceedings in Courts of Justice, and avoiding jealousies, which may be taken up against the judges in that kind, it is ordered that, in every case of a civil nature, between party and party, where there shall fall out so near relation between any judge and any of the parties, as between father and son, either by nature or marriage, brother and brother in like kind, uncle and nephew, landlord and tenant in matters of considerable value, such judge, though he may have liberty to be present in Court at the time of the trial, and give reasonable advice in the case, yet he shall not have power to vote or give sentence therein; neither shall he sit as judge, but beneath the bench, when he shall so plead, or give advice in the case. 1 Mass. MS. Records, 322.” ^*

For a period of forty years or more preceding the revolution, an examination of the Records of the Courts shows, that at many terms of the Superior Court, and Court of Common Pleas, special judges were appointed to supply the want of a quorum of permanent judges, to act in particular cases, occasioned by the relationship of some of the judges to the parties, or by the interest of the judges as proprietors of common lands; and the same practice continued, though less frequently, until the adoption of our present Constitution.^* Since that time, provision is made for dispensing with the usual quorum where one or more of the judges are legally disqualified to sit in any case. Stat. 1815; Rev. Stat. 341, chap. 171, $ 10; chap. 172, <§> 2.

The order of the Massachusetts General Court draws the line of exclusion between the cousin-german related in the fifth degree, and the uncle and nephew related in the fourth degree, according to the computation of the civil law ; which is also the dividing line between those who may intermarry, and those who may not. Rev. Stat. chap. 147, §§ 1, 2, and the same limit is recognised by the Statutes of Connecticut and Vermont. 9 N. H. Rep. 66 ; 14 N. H. Rep. 155; Hill v. Wait, 5 Vermont, 124. The cases of Bean v. Quimby, and Gear v. Smith, extend to the same point, the fourth degree, and within that degree we think it clear, that all officers should be held disqualified to exercise any judicial power. Eeyond that degree, the relation is here very little regarded, but we are not now called upon to consider how far it is a disqualification.

The duties of fence-viewers, we think of a character chiefly judicial. It is not necessary that a magistrate or board should act formally as a Court, or that they should he usually so denominated or considered. If they are bound to notify, and hear the parties, and can only decide after weighing and considering such evidence and arguments, as the parties choose to lay before them, their action is judicial.

By the Revised Statutes, chap. 136, § 13, the fence-viewers shall give notice in writing to the other party interested therein, of every application, and of the time and place appointed for considering the same ; shall hear the parties, if they attend, and their evidence, and shall reduce their decision to writing, which shall be signed, and they shall cause a copy thereof to be given to each of the parties within one week. “ Sect. 16. The decision of the fence-viewers, upon their being duly sworn, shall be final and conclusive upon the parties; ” see Whicher v. Whicher, 11 N. H. Rep. 353, where it is held upon the most satisfactory reasons, that the duties of a justice in taking a deposition, are judicial.

The principle is well settled, that, wherever a tribunal possesses qualified and limited powers, authorizing them to act in certain specified cases only, and by special modes of proceeding, and the law has provided no mode by which these proceedings can be revised, there the proceedings may be impeached, collaterally, by showing that the court or magistrates have acted in a case where they have no jurisdiction, or by modes of procedure which they are not authorized to adopt.

In Bonham's case, 8 Co. Rep. 121, which was trespass and false imprisonment against the Censors of the College of Physicians, who justified under a charter which authorized them to fine and imprison persons practising physic in London without license, a judgment imposing such fine and imprisonment, and imprisonment under a warrant for non-payment, — Colee, C. J., lays down the law to be, that the censors cannot impose a fine or imprisoment without a record of it. The cause for which they impose fine or imprisonment ought to be certain, for it is traversable. For, although they have letters-patent, and an act of parliament, yet, because the party grieved has no other remedy, neither by writ of error, nor otherwise, and they are not made judges, nor a court given to them, but have an anthority only to do it, the cause of their commitment is traversable ; as, upon the Statute of Bankrupts, their warrant is under the great seal and by act of parliament, yet, because the party grieved has no other remedy if the commissioners do not pursue the act and their commission, he shall traverse, that he is not a bankrupt, though the commissioners affirm him to be one. See the cases relating to the poor debtor’s oath, where this principle is of familiar application. Gear v. Smith, ante, &c.

Where the defect in the proceedings consists, as in this case, of the want of jurisdiction to act in the case, it falls within the much broader principle in Russell v. Perry, 14 N. H. Rep. 155, and the cases there collected, “ that a judgment of an inferior court, which has no jurisdiction of the subject-matter, is coram non judiee and void.”

Without considering the soundness of the rule adopted in Massachusetts, (Pearce v. Atwood, 13 Mass. 324,) on which reliance is placed by the defendant, that a judge may sit in a cause in which he is interested “ if it be necessary, to prevent a failure in the administration of justice,” which does not seem to us to be easily reconcilable with the clause of our Bill of Rights, to which reference has been made, it is sufficient for this case, that here there was no necessity for the uncle of the plaintiff to act in his case. There were three fence-viewers elected and qualified. By the Revised Statutes, chap. 1, <§. 13, where powers are conferred on a' board, a majority may act. The other two had all the powers of the whole number, and the decision of the two -would be free from this objection. It is not necessary to consider in this case, what would be the consequence if a majority of the fence-viewers were disqualified by interest or relationship ; perhaps it might operate like the case of vacancies, arising from failure to elect, or from death, or removal from town; in which case, it is supposed, proceedings must be delayed, until the vacancies are filled.

Our conclusion then is, that one of the fence-viewers being disqualified to act, by his relationship to one of the parties, the proceedings before him were coram non judiee and void, and furnish no foundation for the plaintiff’s claim.

Judgment on the verdict.

Notes

* This provision was enacted, almost in the same words, in the first statutes passed in New Hampshire after the establishment of the Provincial Government, at a session held March 16,1679, ’80, entitled, The General Laws and Liberties of the Province of Üew Hampshire.

* At the Superior Court, August Term, 1733, Henry Sherburn, Nathaniel Wear, and Nicholas Gilman, were justices. In the action, “ Thomas Turner, appellant v. William White, appellee. On the motion of the appellant, he making objections against the judges, as not being competent judges, in that cause, it is therefore ordered that he apply to his Excellency, and make manifest the relation the judges stand in to the case, and if his Excellency see fit to appoint new judges on a special Court; and if no order thereon, to come to trial next term, by the Court then in being.” At the next term, Eebruary, 1733, ’4, the same justices attending, the case was tried before Nathaniel Wear, Jotham Odiorne, and Ellis Huske, the two latter special justices.

Case Details

Case Name: Sanborn v. Fellows

Court Name: Superior Court of New Hampshire

Date Published: Jul 15, 1851

Citation: 22 N.H. 473