Snow v. State , 134 Tex. Crim. 263 ( 1937 )

In his motion for rehearing appellant seeks to raise and have this Court determine the question of the eligibility of Judge Harry N. Graves to hold the office of Judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.

We know actually and judicially, (a) that in consequence of the death of the late Judge O. S. Lattimore a vacancy occurred in the office of Judge of this Court; (b) that in discharging the duty imposed upon him by the Constitution (Article 5, Sec. 4), the Governor appointed Judge Graves to fill the vacancy; (c) that Judge Graves holds a commission from the Governor evidencing his appointment to the office; (d) that he has taken the official oath and is now engaged in discharging the duties of said office; (e) that Judge Graves was a member of the House of Representatives of the 45th Legislature of the State, (f) that the Legislature of which Judge Graves was a member passed a law which raised the salaries of Judges of the appellate courts, including the Judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals, (g) that the term for which Judge Graves was elected to said 45th Legislature does not expire until the 2d Tuesday in January, 1939; (h) that Article 3, Section 18, of the State Constitution provides in part as follows: "No Senator or Representative shall, during the term for which he may be elected, be eligible to any civil office of profit under this State, which shall have been created, or the emoluments of which may have been increased during such term."

It is upon the provision of the Constitution last above quoted that appellant bases his contention that Judge Graves is ineligible to hold the office, the duties of which he is now discharging.

The importance of the matter presents a strong appeal for the expression of our views upon the merits of the question, but if this Court is without power to determine the eligibility of Judge Graves any expression thereon would not amount to an adjudication of the question, and we have no disposition to attempt the exercise of a jurisdiction which we do not have. This same idea evidently prompted the statement from Judge DAVIDSON found in Marta et al. v. State, 81 Tex. Crim. 135,193 S.W. 323. In that case appellant attempted in a motion for rehearing to raise a question on the right of Judge Harper to function as a Judge of this Court, the claim being that he had by his acts vacated the office. Judge DAVIDSON dissented on affirmance of the judgment, but regarding the attack upon Judge Harper said: "I believe from hurried review of the motion of appellants to disqualify Judge Harper from sitting in this motion for rehearing that as a member of this Court I am not authorized to decide that matter. Any conclusion I might reach or decide I could not enforce by judicial order or mandate. This Court as a court can not try one of its members for breach of duty, or supposed breach of duty."

It is certain that the present effort to raise the question of eligibility of Judge Graves by appellant in his motion for rehearing is a collateral and not a direct attack. The holding of the courts is quite uniform in all jurisdictions that such a question may not be raised collaterally. It is not necessary, however, to go beyond our own courts.

"It is settled law that the right of a judge to the office in which he functions may not be attacked collaterally." 25 Tex. Jur. 245; Lowe v. State, 83 Tex.Crim. Rep., 201 S.W. 986; Marta v. State, 81 Tex.Crim. Rep., 193 S.W. 323; Germany v. State, 3 S.W.2d 798; Hamilton v. State, 51 S.W. 217; Ex parte Tracey, 93 S.W. 538; Hagler v. State, 116 Tex. Crim. 552,31 S.W.2d 653; Bennett v. State, 78 Tex. Crim. 231,181 S.W. 197; Ex parte Call, 2 Texas Ct. App. 500[2 Tex. Crim. 500]. In the case last cited, after reviewing many authorities, Judge WHITE said: "It is a general rule that the title of an incumbent of a judicial office can not be impeached collaterally and indirectly, and that, while he is in possession of the office, discharging its ordinary functions, his official acts are conclusive as to all parties interested * * *. The result from all the authorities seems to be that, in matters which concern the public, the officer's title to his office (he being in the exercise of its duties) can not be questioned unless in a direct proceeding having for its object the contestation of his right to hold the office."

In Germany v. State (supra), quoting from Ex parte Tracey (supra), "The whole doctrine of de facto officer is founded upon policy and necessity, in order to protect the public and individuals, where they may become involved in the official acts of persons discharging the duties of an office, without being lawful officers."

Upon the subject of collateral attacks we cite the following cases from our own appellate civil courts, which are in accord with the decisions of our own Court. Aulanier v. Governor,1 Tex. 653; City of Christine v. Johnson, 255 S.W. 629; Broach v. Garth, 50 S.W. 594; Williams v. Castleman, 112 Tex. 193,247 S.W. 263. In the opinion in the case last cited the Supreme Court said: "While the purpose of the suit was in reality to determine appellant's right to the office involved, as well as the actual existence of the office, appellee made no claim to the office occupied by appellant. Such being the state of the case, if appellant was ineligible, the exclusive remedy to prevent his usurpation or unlawful occupancy of the office was by quo warranto."

The decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States are in accord with the rulings of the Texas courts. See Ex parte Ward, 173 U.S. 452, 43 L. Ed. 765; McDowell v. U.S.,159 U.S. 596; Ball v. U.S., 140 U.S. 118. In Ex parte Ward it appears that Ward having been tried and convicted in the court presided over by Judge Edward R. Meek, challenged the judgment by habeas corpus on the ground that Judge Meek's appointment to the office was invalid, in that he had been appointed by the President while the Senate was in session and his appointment had not been confirmed. After reviewing the decisions, the court said: "The result of the authorities is that the title of a person acting with color of authority, even if he be not a good officer in point of law, can not be collaterally attacked, and as Judge Meek acted, at least, under such color, we can not enter on any discussion of propositions involving his title to the office he held."

As reflecting the holdings of the courts in the various jurisdictions over the United States we copy the following excerpt from 33 C. J., pages 932 and 933, Sections 13 and 14, omitting those parts which seem inapplicable: "The judiciary are invested with authority to try and determine the right of a judge to office. Such an inquiry is not a political, but a judicial, question. In the absence of some special statutory provision this right can be questioned only by the State; and it can not be tested in a collateral proceeding. Quo warranto is the proper proceeding in which to test a judge's right to his office. * * * A judge de facto is a judge de jure as to all parties except the State, and his official acts, before he is ousted from office, are binding on third persons and the public. His right to hold his office can be questioned only in proceedings, regularly instituted for that purpose, to which he is a party, in the form provided by law; it can not be attacked in a collateral proceeding. * * * The rules apply, although the person acting as judge is incapable of holding the office, and irrespective of the question whether he was properly elected, * * *." Many authorities will be found collated in the footnotes supporting the text, including a quotation from State v. Bednar, 18 N.D. 484, 121 N.W. 614, as follows: "That such rule [the rule of the text] has for its foundation a wise and sound public policy must be apparent to all, for in its absence intolerable confusion would inevitably result."

Judge Graves is unquestionably holding the office of a Judge of this Court under color of title by appointment and is discharging the duties of such office. The only way in which his title to the office may be determined is a direct proceeding instituted for that purpose in a court of competent jurisdiction. If some one else was asserting title to the office such party by a direct suit against Judge Graves could raise the question. McAllen v. Rhodes, 65 Tex. 348. The only other method is by direct quo warranto proceedings. In no event can a de jure judge, or a de facto judge claiming the office by color of appointment, and actually performing the duties of such officer, be ousted, or his official acts successfully challenged except in a direct proceeding to which he is a party. Such a proceeding could not be filed in this Court originally, and could not be brought to this Court by appeal because such an action would be a civil proceeding to test the right of the incumbent to hold a civil office of which this Court has no jurisdiction. Article 5, Section 5, of the Constitution fixes the jurisdiction of said Court as follows: "The Court of Criminal Appeals shall have appellate jurisdiction coextensive with the limits of the State in all criminal cases of whatever grade, with such exceptions and under such regulations as may be prescribed by law."

Appellant appears to take the position that if Judge Graves is in fact ineligible as a Judge of this Court that all acts of the court would be void. He asks that his motion for rehearing be granted, or a decision of the matter held in "abeyance until such time as this Court shall have been reorganized and consist of three Constitutionally eligible members." Section 4 of Article 5 of the Constitution provides that: "The Court of Criminal Appeals shall consist of three Judges, any two of whom shall constitute a quorum, and the concurrence of two Judges shall be necessary to a decision of said court."

If the Governor for some reason had refrained from appointing anyone to the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Lattimore, the two remaining Judges could have functioned unless they had disagreed in some case. There has been no disagreement in appellant's case, and in no event has he been injured by the presence of Judge Graves upon the Court. Long v. State,59 Tex. Crim. 103.

The motion for rehearing is overruled.

MORROW, PRESIDING JUDGE. — I concur in the opinion of Judge HAWKINS.

HAWKINS, JUDGE. — Judge GRAVES did not participate in deciding the motion for rehearing.