State Ex Rel. Kalina v. Hinkle

295 P. 733, 160 Wash. 702, 1931 Wash. LEXIS 914

• Court: Washington Supreme Court
• Decided: January 30, 1931
• Docket: No. 22799. En Banc.
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam.

This was an original application in this court, seeking a writ prohibiting the secretary of state from issuing and certifying to the various county auditors throughout the state, notice to call an election at the general election on November 4, 1930, to fill the vacancy on the supreme court caused by the death of the Honorable Walter M. French. This case is a companion case to that of State ex rel. Rummens v. Superior Court, ante p. 520, 295 Pac. 730, just decided, and was heard at the same time. At the time of the hearing, or soon thereafter, an order was entered denying the relief prayed for, and reciting that a formal opinion would follow later.

If, as held in the ease of State ex rel. Rummens v. Superior Court, supra, Rem. Comp. Stat., § 11044, operates as a call for an election, it is immaterial whether the secretary of state should give any notice, because it would be the duty of the county auditors, when the vacancy occurs, to give notice of the election to fill such vacancy. Upon oral argument, the assistant attorney general stated that, if the matter became material, he desired to withdraw his demurrer and deny that the secretary of state was intending to do what it was charged that he would do.

We think this ease is sufficiently covered by what is said in the other case, and that the relator was not entitled to the prohibitory order which he sought.