State ex rel. Attorney General v. Circuit Court for Eau Claire County

72 N.W. 193, 97 Wis. 1, 1897 Wisc. LEXIS 5

• Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Decided: April 13, 1897
• Status: Published

Opinion

The decision was announced April 13, 1897, and the following opinion was filed September 21, 1897:

Winslow, J.

The importance of the questions arising in this case, and the imperative necessity of a wise and just decision, can hardly be overestimated. These questions involve not only the right of a court to- enforce due respect for its -authority, and punish acts which tend to diminish such proper respect and interfere with the performance of its important public duties, but they involve as well the preservation of personal liberty as against summary imprisonment, the right •of free speech, the freedom of the press, and the proper limit which may be placed upon the discussion of the fitness of -candidates for public office. Eully realizing, as we believe, the gravity of these questions, we have given the case the fullest and most careful consideration within our power, in order that no false step, involving at once consequences disastrous and far-reaching, might be taken. The questions involved upon which all minor questions depend are but two in number: Eirst, did the publications in question constitute -a criminal contempt of court? and, second, is the writ of prohibition the proper remedy?

1. Did the publications constitute a criminal contempt of •court? In considering this question it has not been deemed necessary to reproduce the articles in this opinion. It is sufficient to say of them that, among other things, they charged ■Judge Bailey with having been intentionally partial and corrupt in the trial of certain causes in his court. If the charges were true, the unfitness of Jxodge Bailey for his office was certain. That they were intemperate in tone, and well calculated to exasperate their subject, may be at once admitted. It seems probable also that from their very intemperance they were rather calculated to injure the cause which they were designed to help than otherwise. These questions are, however, foreign to the present inquiry; the question being, not whether Judge Bailey as an individual was grossly slandered, but whether a criminal contempt of court was committed.

A criminal contempt at common law may be generally defined as any act which tends either to obstruct the course of justice or to prejudice the trial in any action or proceeding then pending in court. The power of courts of superior jurisdiction created by the constitution to punish such acts is necessarily inherent in such a court, and arises by implication from the very act of creating the court. A court without this power would be at best a mere debating society, and not a court. These principles have been recognized in all courts from time immemorial. In re Rosenberg, 90 Wis. 581-588; Ex parte Robinson, 19 Wall. 505; Rapalje, Contempt, § 1. Doubtless, this power may be regulated, and the manner of its exercise prescribed, by statute, but certainly it cannot be entirely taken away, nor can its efficiency be so impaired or abridged as to leave the court without power to compel the due respect and obedience which is essential to preserve its character as a judicial tribunal. The decisions on this point are well nigh unanimous. See authorities collated in note to Percival v. State, 50 Am. St. Rep. 568-572. It is, and must be, a power arbitrary in its nature, and summary in its execution. It is, perhaps, nearest akin to despotic power of any power existing under our form of government. Such being its nature, due regard for the liberty of the citizen imperatively requires that its limits be carefully guarded, so that they be not overstepped. It is important that it exist in full vigor; it is equally important that it be not abused. The greater the power, the greater the care required in its exercise. Being a power which arises and is based upon necessity, it must'be measured and limited by the necessity which calls it into existence. The ultimate question, then, is, Is it necessary to the due administration of justice by a court that the publication of such an article as the one before us be punished as a criminal contempt?

Before discussing the authorities upon this question, it will be well to state the exact facts which were charged in the petition of Messrs. Hayden and Frawley in the circuit court. It was alleged that the articles were written by Doolittle, and by his request published by Aslibaugh; that court was in session, with a full panel of jurors, trying jury cases, and that the articles were by the defendants generally circulated in the city of Eau Claire, and were distributed to various persons residing in this state, and were by them distributed and delivered to the officers “of said court, and to persons-summoned as jurors in said court,” and “ were read by the officers and jurors so in attendance in said court.” The articles themselves referred to no cases pending or on trial, but contained only strictures upon the general character of the judge, and his acts in former cases which had been concluded. The fact should also be remembered that a judicial election was impending, and that the judge was a candidate-for re-election.

It is evident that, if any contempt was committed, it was. what is known as constructive contempt, as distinguished from direct contempt. Eapalje, Contempt, § 22. Numerous cases are cited which are claimed to support the contention that such publications constitute constructive contempt of court. Examination of these cases, however, reveals the fact that the great majority of them simply hold that publications of this nature, which refer to an action or proceeding then fending and undecided, constitute contempt. Such cases are In re Sturoc, 48 N. H. 428; State v. Frew, 24 W. Va. 416; People v. Wilson, 64 Ill. 195; Territory v. Murray, 7 Mont. 251; In re Cheeseman (N. J. Sup.), 6 Atl. Eep. 513; Cooper v. People ex rel. Wyatt, 13 Colo. 337; State ex rel. Phelps v. Judge of Civ. Dist. Ct. 45 La. Ann. 1250. The principle on which these cases are placed is that such publications have a natural tendency to prejudice the course of justice in. the particular cause then pending, and hence constitute constructive contempt. It is unnecessary in the present case, nor would it be proper, to affirm or deny the correctness of these-decisions. Such a case is not now before us. The publications complained of here referred to no pending litigation,. nor is it charged that they were circulated or brought into the immediate presence of the court.

Passing from this class of cases, we come to the cases which involve the consideration of adverse or libelous newspaper comments upon the acts of a court in actions already past and ended, and here we find much contrariety of opinion, not to say confusion, in the utterances of courts and text writers. Oases may be found holding directly that such publications constitute constructive contempts, aud may be punished as such. State v. Morrill, 16 Ark. 384; Comm. v. Dandridge, 2 Va. Cas. 409; In re Chadwick (Mich.), 67 N. W. Rep. 1071. The reasoning upon which such decisions rest is that such publications tend to diminish the respect due to the court in the trial of future causes, and thus impair its usefulness. This doctrine is certainly extreme. Carried to its ultimate ■conclusion, it would call for the punishment of any adverse •criticism on the official conduct of a sitting judge, and absolutely prevent all public or private discussion of court proceedings. All such discussion, if unfavorable to the ability •or honesty of a judge, must tend, iu some small degree at least, to undermine public confidence in the court in the future. On the other hand, many well-considered cases may be found in which it is distinctly held that such publications •do not constitute contempt, and cannot be punished as such. Some of these cases go upon the ground that, even if such publications were punishable as constructive contempts at common ■ law, still that it was competent for the legislature to limit such power by statute, and that such power has been limited by statutes substantially similar to our own. R. S. sec. 2565. Some of the cases, however, distinctly hold that under our form of government such publications do not constitute contempt, and that to punish them as such would be .a serious invasion of the great constitutional guaranties of freedom of speech and of the press. The following decisions are cited as enunciating one or both of these principles: Stuart v. People, 4 Ill. 395; Storey v. People, 79 Ill. 45; Dunham, v. State, 6 Iowa, 245; State v. Anderson, 40 Iowa, 207; Cheadle v. State, 110 Ind. 301; In re Robinson, 117 N. C. 533; State v. Sweetland, 3 S. Dak. 503; Percival v. State, 45 Neb. 741.

In our own state the question has never been discussed in any opinion. It is a fact, however, that a case arose and was decided upon the merits early in the history of this court, ■while Chief Justice Whiton was on the bench, involving this very question, although for some reason no opinion was ever filed. The original records are still preserved in the clerk’s ■office, and they disclose the following facts: In October, 1854, Messrs. Brown and Calkins published a newspaper in Madison; and during the October term of the circuit court for Daue county published an article charging corruption and malice upon the grand jury and the presiding judge of the ■court in the finding of an indictment against the school-land ■commissioners. Proceedings were instituted in the circuit ■court as for criminal contempt, and, after hearing, the court ■adjudged that a contempt had been committed, and adjudged that a fine be imposed upon both defendants. The cause was removed to this court upon writ of error, was after-wards argued, and the judgment was wholly reversed on the 21st day of May, 1858. Upon the outside of the record appears the notation, “Stuart v. People, 3 Scam. 402,” and in the volume of court minutes appears the notation, “ Opinion by the chief justice.” Although no opinion was ever in fact filed, there seems to be no escape from the conclusion that this court at that time held that the publication before it did not constitute a contempt. ETo other ground appears upon which the judgment could have been reversed upon the merits.

But, whatever may be thought of the case just mentioned or of its weight as authority, we are well persuaded that newspaper comments on cases finally decided prior to the publication cannot be considered criminal, contempt, and our reasons for that conclusion will be briefly stated.

Important as it is that courts should perform their grave public duties unimpeded -and unprejudiced by illegitimate influences, there are other rights guaranteed to all citizens by our constitution and form of government, either expressly or impliedly, which are fully as important, and which must be guarded with an equally jealous care. These rights are the right of free speech and of free publication of the citizen’s sentiments “on all subjects.” (Art. I, Amendm. Const, of U. S.; Const. Wis. art. I, sec. 3); the right of trial by jury (Const. Wis. art. I, secs. 5,7); also the right to freely discuss the merits and qualifications of a candidate for public office, being responsible for the abuse of such right in a proper action at law. In the present case it is of the utmost importance to bear in mind that Judge Bailey was a candidate before the people for re-election. Had he been a candidate for any other office, it would not be contended by any one that the publications in question would afford ground for any other legal action than an action for libel in the regular course of the law; but the claim is that because he was a judge, and was holding court at that time, such unfavorable criticism of his past actions may be summarily punished by the judge himself as for contempt. Truly, it must be a grievous and weighty necessity which will justify so arbitrary a proceeding, whereby a candidate for office becomes the accuser, judge, and jury, and may within a few hours summarily punish his critic by imprisonment. The result of such a doctrine is that all unfavorable criticism of a sitting judge’s past official action can be at once stopped by the judge himself, or, if not stopped, can be punished by immediate imprisonment. If there can be any more effectual way to gag the press, and subvert freedom of speech, we do not know where to find it. Under such a rule the merits of a sitting judge may be rehearsed, but as to his demerits there must be profound silence. In our judgment, no such divinity as-this “ doth hedge about” a judge; certainly not when he is a candidate for public office.

Eecurring to the question with which the discussion opened, namely, Is it necessary that a court should possess this power? we feel bound to hold that, considering the guaranteed rights of the.citizen just referred to, no such power as this is necessary for the due administration of justice. It may be freely admitted that under the common law as administered in England the mere writing contemptuously of a superior court or judge has been declared a constructive contempt. 4 Bl. Comm. 285. ¥e, however, adopted no part of the common law which was inconsistent with our constitution (Const. Wis. art. XIY, sec. 13), and it seems clear to us that so extreme a power is inconsistent with, and would materially impair, the constitutional rights of free speech and free press.

But it is claimed that the publication constituted a criminal contempt, within the provisions of our statute. Sec. 2565, E. S., defines criminal contempts, and divides them into seven classes. Of these classes only the first and the sixth have any possible bearing upon the case. ■ These classes are: “(1) Disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent behavior committed during its sittings, in its immediate view and, presence, and directly tending to interrupt its proceedings, or to impair the respect due its authority.” “(6) The publication of a false, or grossly inaccurate, report or copy of its proceedings; .but no court can punish as a contempt the publication of true, full, and fair reports of any trial, argument, proceedings, or decisions had in such court.” Certainly the publication in question does not fall within the first subdivision. Acts punishable under this provision must have been in the immediate view and presence of the court, and it was not ■charged in the complaint of Messrs. Hayden and Erawley that any such act had been committed. It was not even alleged that the publication had been circulated in the court room. Nor does the sixth subdivision apply, because it was not charged that the references to the proceedings in court were in any respect false or inaccurate. It may well be doubted whether the publication itself could be well called in any proper sense a “ report or copy ” of the proceedings of the court, but, conceding that it could be so called, the charge of contempt must certainly allege that the report is “ false or grossly inaccurate” in order to make a case of contempt. This is jurisdictional. If it be not alleged, no contempt is stated. Our conclusion is that the attempt to punish the publication in question as for contempt was in excess of the jurisdiction of the circuit court.

Rut another claim was made by the counsel who so ably represented Judge Bailey in this court, which requires some attention. It appears by the return that immediately upon the service of the alternative writ upori him, Judge Bailey announced that he would proceed no further with the pending proceedings, and that they were stayed. After making this announcement, however, the judge at once stated that a new contempt had been committed by Aslibaugh and Doolittle in the immediate presence of the court by the filing of their sworn return or affidavit in response to the original order to show cause stating that the charges in the newspaper articles were true; that this contempt was independent of the alleged contempt by publication, and was not included within the inhibition of the writ, and that he would at once punish them for this contempt. Thereupon the judge proceeded at once to adjudge them guilty of this new contempt, and sentenced them to imprisonment therefor. We are unable to agree with this contention. If, as we have held, the original publication was not contempt, and the attempt to punish it as such was in excess of the jurisdiction of the court, then certainly the defendants had a right, when summoned into court, to allege its truth. They were forced, if they were in any degree honorable men and not mere slanderers, to allege the truth of the publication. Any other course would demonstrate their pusillanimity. It cannot be endured that a court, by unauthorized summary proceedings, should wring from a man such a declaration, and then abandon the original proceedings, and punish this forced declaration as contempt.

2. The question remains whether the writ of prohibition is the proper remedy. This writ issues only to restrain a court in the exercise of judicial functions outside or beyond its jurisdiction, and when there is no other adequate remedy. State ex rel. De Puy v. Evans, 88 Wis. 255; Quimbo Appo v. People, 20 N. Y. 531. Having held that the attempt to punish the publication in question as contempt was in excess of the jurisdiction of the circuit court, no reason is seen why the writ is not an apt and proper • remedy, unless, indeed, there be other adequate remedies. We do not think that in a case like the present, where immediate imprisonment was threatened and about to he inflicted, either writ of error or habeas corpus can be said to be an adequate remedy. In either case the trial must have been concluded and sentence imposed before the writ could issue, and in the case of habeas corpus the imprisonment must have actually begun. There certainly is grave doubt whether certiorari would lie in any event. Chittenden v. State, 41 Wis. 285. In view of these considerations, it seems certain that neither of the last-named writs would afford an adequate remedy, even conceding that they would be applicable. Prohibition has been used in other jurisdictions in similar cases. Reg. v. Lefroy, 4 Moak’s Eng. 250; People ex rel. Wright v. County Judge, 27 Cal. 151; Williams v. Dwinelle, 51 Cal. 442; People ex rel. Pierce v. Carrington, 5 Utah, 531.

During the preparation of this opinion, the writer has been furnished with a pamphlet discussion of the law of con-tempts, prepared by Judge Bailey. Although arriving at different conclusions from those reached by us, Judge Bailey’s discussion of the question bears the marks of his well-known legal ability and industry, and it is but fair to say that it has been of much assistance in finding and considering authorities upon the interesting questions involved in this case.

The judgment in this case having already been entered and executed, no mandate is necessary.