McKee v. De Graffenreid

• Decision Date: 14 May 1912
• Parties: McKEE et al. v. DE GRAFFENREID et al.
• Court: Oklahoma Supreme Court

124 P. 303

33 Okla. 136, 1912 OK 385

McKEE et al. v. DE GRAFFENREID et al.

Supreme Court of Oklahoma

May 14, 1912

Syllabus by the Court.

Mandamus may issue to require a judge of the district court to grant a "person accused of violating or disobeying, when not in the presence or hearing of the court, or judge sitting as such, any order of injunction, or restraint made or entered by" such court or judge, a trial by jury, "before penalty or punishment is imposed."

The proviso to section 25, art. 2 (Bill of Rights), of the Constitution, providing "that any person accuse of violating or disobeying, when not in the presence or hearing of the court, or judge sitting as such, any order of injunction, or restraint made or entered by any court or judge of the state shall, before penalty or punishment is imposed, be entitled to a trial by jury as to the guilt or innocence of the accused," is effective, and, as supplemented by the provisions of the common law as to contempts, which is in force in this state by statute (section 5534, Comp. Laws 1909). and the statutory provisions of our Code relative to jury trials, supplies a sufficient rule by means of which the right given under said proviso may be exercised or enforced.

Original action in mandamus by C. F. McKee and others against R. P. De Graffenreid and others. Writ granted.

Blakeney Maxey & Miley, of Muskogee, for plaintiffs.

Kistler McAdams & Haskell, of Muskogee, for defendants.

WILLIAMS J.

The plaintiffs, C. F. McKee, S. McKee, and F. McKee, were duly charged with violating or disobeying, when not in the presence or hearing of the court or judge, an order of injunction or restraint made or rendered by the court or the judge of said court. Said plaintiffs in due time demanded a trial by jury as to their guilt or innocence of the charge which was denied. This proceeding in error is brought that the judge of said court may be required to grant said plaintiffs a trial by jury, as provided by section 25, art. 2 (Bill of Rights), of the Constitution of this state. It is essential to determine (1) whether mandamus is the proper remedy, and (2) whether said section 25 is self-enforcing.

1. It is settled in this jurisdiction that a party adjudged guilty of contempt may prosecute an appeal from such order or judgment. Smythe v. Smythe, 28 Okl. 266, 114 P. 257. On review, this court will determine whether any error has been committed against the party appealing, and, if so, and a substantial right is involved, a reversal will follow.

In Gompers et al. v. Bucks Stove & Range Co., 221 U.S. 418 31 S.Ct. 492, 55 L.Ed. 797, 34 L. R. A. (N. S.) 874, it is said: "Contempts are neither wholly civil nor altogether criminal. And 'it may not always be easy to classify a particular act as belonging to either one of these two classes. It may partake of the characteristics of both.' Bessette v. W. B. Conkey Co., 194 U.S. 329, 24 S.Ct. 665, 48 L.Ed. 1002. But in either event, and whether the proceedings be civil or criminal, there must be an allegation that in contempt of court the defendant has disobeyed the order, and a prayer that he be attached and punished therefor. It is not the fact of punishment, but rather its character and purpose, that often serve to distinguish between the two classes of cases. If it is for civil contempt, the punishment is remedial, and for the benefit of the complainant. But if it is for criminal contempt, the sentence is punitive, to vindicate the authority of the court. It is true that punishment by imprisonment may be remedial as well as punitive; and many civil contempt proceedings have resulted, not only in the imposition of a fine, payable to the complainant, but also in committing the defendant to prison. But imprisonment for civil contempt is ordered where the defendant has refused to do an affirmative act required by the provisions of an order which, either in form or substance, was mandatory in its character. Imprisonment in such cases is not inflicted as a punishment, but it is intended to be remedial by coercing the defendant to do what he refused to do. The decree in such cases is that the defendant strand committed until he performs the affirmative act required by the court's order. For example: If a defendant should refuse to pay alimony, or to surrender property ordered to be turned over to a receiver, or to make a conveyance required by a decree for specific performance, he could be committed until he complied with the order. ***" See, also, Re Merchants' Stock & Grain Co. et al., Petitioners, 223 U.S. 639, 32 S.Ct. 339, 56 L.Ed. --.

In Ex parte Gudenoge, 2 Okl. Cr. 110, 100 P. 39, section 2125, Wilson's Rev. & Ann. St. 1903, dividing contempts into two classes, direct and indirect, and defining direct contempt as consisting of "disorderly and insolent behavior committed during the session of the court and in its immediate view and presence, and the unlawful and willful refusal of any person to be sworn as a witness," was considered by the Criminal Court of Appeals on the assumption that it was brought over by virtue of the Schedule to the Constitution; the question not being directly passed on.

In Smythe v. Smythe, supra, this question was considered, and, under the authority of Smith v. Speed, 11 Okl. 95, 66 P. 511, 55 L. R. A. 402, wherein said act was held to be in conflict with the organic act and therefore void, it was held that such section was not continued in force after the erection of the state. See De Graff v. State, 2 Okl. 519, 103 P. 538. In this state the common-law rule as to contempts now applies. In either civil or criminal contempt, punishment by imprisonment may be imposed. That being so, would an appeal be an adequate remedy?

In Evans v. Willis, County Judge, 22 Okl. 310, 97 P. 1047, 19 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1050, 18 Ann. Cas. 258, it is said: "There is no general rule by which the adequacy or inadequacy of a remedy can be ascertained; but the question is one to be determined upon the facts of each particular case. The writ will not be issued on account of the inconvenience, expense, or delay of other remedies, but will be granted where the remedy available is insufficient to prevent immediate injury or hardship to the party complaining, particularly in criminal cases. 16 Enc. Pl. & Pr. p. 1131, and authorities cited in footnotes 1 and 2. It appears that in criminal cases neither appeal, habeas corpus, nor certiorari would be a plain, speedy, or adequate remedy. 16 Enc. Pl. & Pr. p. 1132, and authorities cited in footnote 1." See, also, Herndon v. Hammond, 28 Okl. 616, 115 P. 775.

It seems to be settled in this jurisdiction that the remedy afforded by appeal is not adequate where a party may be imprisoned.

In Bardstown v. Hurst, 121 Ky. 119, 89 S.W. 147, 724, the petitioner was being prosecuted for the violation of an ordinance of a municipal corporation in territory which had been illegally annexed to the city; the illegality consisting in the invalidity of the ordinance annexing the same. The court held that a writ of prohibition would issue to restrain the prosecution.

In State v. Moultrieville, Rice (S. C.) 158, the court held that a writ of prohibition would issue to restrain the collections of fines imposed for violations of a municipal ordinance, where the court imposing the same, by reason of the amount involved, had no jurisdiction of the case.

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