McQueen v. State

• Decision Date: 29 November 1979
• Docket Number: No. 579S136,579S136
• Citation: 272 Ind. 229,396 N.E.2d 903
• Parties: . A. Vance McQUEEN, Appellant, v. STATE of Indiana, Nominal Appellee. Supreme Court of Indiana
• Court: Indiana Supreme Court

Page 903

396 N.E.2d 903

272 Ind. 229

In the Matter of the Suspension of A. Vance McQueen by the

Shelby Superior Court.

A. Vance McQUEEN, Appellant, v. STATE of Indiana, Nominal Appellee.

No. 579S136.

Supreme Court of Indiana.

Nov. 29, 1979.

Frank E. Spencer, Indianapolis, for appellant.

Theodore L. Sendak, Atty. Gen., Wesley T. Wilson, Deputy Atty. Gen., Indianapolis, for nominal appellee.

HUNTER, Justice.

Appellant, A. Vance McQueen, is a practicing attorney, admitted to the bar of this Court. He was the defense attorney for one Alan Dale Hicks in a criminal prosecution in the Shelby Superior Court, the Honorable George R. Tolen, Judge. Defendant Hicks was convicted by a jury. After the trial, Judge Tolen allegedly made comments to the effect that people, such as defendant, who are hooked on drugs, are not in fact human beings because they don't function as human beings. Attorney McQueen then filed a motion for change of venue from the judge for sentencing, alleging bias and prejudice as grounds for his motion. Affidavits of six jurors were filed in which the jurors stated that the allegations in the verified motion was substantially correct in setting out the content of Judge Tolen's remarks. At the hearing on the motion, the defendant, the prosecuting attorney, a deputy sheriff and a local attorney all testified and corroborated the allegation.

Following this evidence, the court ruled that McQueen in preparing the affidavit for Hicks, had intentionally misrepresented the court's remarks. Accordingly, Judge Tolen suspended appellant McQueen from the practice of law in the Shelby Superior Court for a period of ninety days.

McQueen thereafter filed a "Verified Motion to Vacate Finding and Judgment," contesting the legality and propriety of said suspension. He now appeals from the trial court's denial of that motion. This Court has jurisdiction over all appeals involving discipline of attorneys admitted to the practice of law. Ind.R.Ap.P. 4(A)(2).

We note that although a properly denominated motion to correct error was not filed, the motion to vacate finding and judgment served the purpose of a motion to correct error. Pleadings are to be examined and treated as to their content rather than their captions. See Hawkins v. Jenkins, (1978) Ind., 374 N.E.2d 496. As the motion in the case at bar meets the requirements of Ind.R.Tr.P. 59 as to its content, we may consider it as a motion to correct error. State ex rel. Indiana Florida Realty Trust v. Howard Cir. Ct., (1970) 256 Ind. 11, 264 N.E.2d 315.

Appellant McQueen challenges both the jurisdiction of the trial court in this matter and the propriety of the judges's remarks. For reasons which follow we find that the trial court was without jurisdiction to suspend attorney McQueen from the practice of law.

This Court has long given to trial courts the power to punish misconduct of attorneys and others. We have held that, "To protect itself against gross violations of decency and decorum, is a necessary incidental power of a Court." Brown v. Brown, (1853) 4 Ind. 627, 627, 58 A.D. 641. However, the Brown case does not grant a trial judge the power to suspend attorneys from the practice of law in his court. In the Brown case the trial court did not go so far as to suspend plaintiff's counsel. Rather, the court in Brown merely taxed the costs of the litigation to the attorney as a result of his misconduct.

Appellant, in his reply brief, concedes that a trial judge can protect his court against insult and gross violations of decorum by the infliction of summary punishment by fine, imprisonment or both via a contempt citation. We do not question this authority. Ind.Code § 34-4-7-1 and 6 (Burns 1973); Ex Parte Smith, (1867) 28 Ind. 47.

However, in Ex Parte Smith, this Court held that a trial court could not suspend an attorney in a summary proceeding, but rather had to follow the disciplinary procedure set out by statute. The statute at that time placed the power to suspend in "any court of record." 2 G. & H. § DCCLXXVII, p. 329 (1870).

The disciplinary powers of trial courts have steadily eroded since the 1930s. In 1931, Burns Ind.Stat.Ann. § 4-3605 (see 1933 Ed.) was amended to read:

"The Supreme Court of this state shall have exclusive jurisdiction to admit attorneys to practice law in all courts of the state under such rules and regulations as it may prescribe."

In Lane v. Campbell, (1938) 214 Ind. 376, 14 N.E.2d 552, this Court held that the above act effectively repealed a prior statute which empowered the courts of each county to determine whether attorneys practicing in those courts by virtue of their admission to practice law in other counties were of good moral character. However, every court of general jurisdiction maintained the "plenary power to discipline the members of Its own bar and those practicing before it . . . ." Beamer, Attorney General v. Waddell, (1943) 221 Ind. 232, 240, 45 N.E.2d 1020, 1022 (emphasis added). The Waddell case also established that Burns Ind.Stat.Ann. § 4-3614 (see 1946 Repl.) ¹ did not confer exclusive suspension powers in trial courts but that the Supreme Court had concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit and superior courts in disciplinary matters. This concurrent jurisdiction reflected a transition from admission of attorneys by any court of record prior to July 1, 1931, to the exclusive admission by the Supreme Court thereafter. The Court reached a similar conclusion in In Re Harrison, (1953) 231 Ind. 665, 109 N.E.2d 722.

"We construe the provisions of said § 4-3614, Supra, as being in aid of the power of this court to prescribe rules and regulations for the admission of attorneys to practice law in Indiana and for their suspension or disbarment, and not in limitation thereof.

"It seems to us that the duty imposed upon circuit and superior courts by said § 4-3614, Supra, to disbar an attorney for the reasons therein set out, rests with equal weight upon this court." 231 Ind. at 668, 109 N.E.2d at 723.

In 1940, the Supreme Court adopted Rule 3-7 to facilitate circuit and superior court disciplinary actions. In 1943, this Court adopted Rule 3-22 which provided:

"Original actions to disbar, suspend or otherwise discipline members of the bar of this state may be instituted in this court by the Attorney General of Indiana, without leave. No other person may commence such a proceeding without leave of court first had and obtained, and the clerk is directed not to permit such proceedings to be filed, except by the Attorney General, until such leave has been granted." Rules of The Supreme Court of Indiana (1943).

This rule was subsequently amended, as Rule 3-21, to provide in relevant part:

"This Court shall have Exclusive jurisdiction of original actions to disbar, suspend or otherwise discipline members of the bar of this State. Such proceedings may be instituted in this Court without leave by the Attorney General of Indiana or a Disciplinary Commission appointed by this Court. No other person may commence such a proceeding without leave of Court first obtained, and the clerk is directed not to permit such proceedings to be filed except as herein provided." Rules of The Supreme Court of Indiana (1967) (emphasis added; footnote omitted).

The effect of the exclusivity of Rule 3-21 was described in a footnote which provided that the rule superseded, Inter alia, Rule 3-7 and Burns Ind.Stat.Ann. § 4-3614 (1946 Repl.). It was at this point that the authority to suspend attorneys vested in the circuit and superior courts of this state was completely abolished.

Among the 1970 amendments to the Indiana Constitution was Art. 7, § 4 which provides in part:

"The Supreme Court shall have no original jurisdiction except in admission to the practice of law; discipline or disbarment of those admitted . . . ."

In 1971, this Court amended prior Rule 3-21 by adopting Ind.R.Adm. & Dis. 23 which provided:

"This court shall have exclusive jurisdiction of original actions to disbar, suspend or otherwise discipline members of the bar of this state. Such proceedings may be instituted in this court without leave by the attorney general of Indiana or a disciplinary commission appointed by this court. No other person may commence such a proceeding without leave of court first obtained, and the clerk is directed not to permit such proceedings to be filed except as herein provided." Indiana Rules of Court (1971).

On June 23, 1971, the Supreme Court established a full-time disciplinary commission with exclusive power to enforce our code of professional responsibility. The relative portion of Ind.R.Adm. & Dis. 23 now reads:

"This Court has exclusive jurisdiction of all cases in which an attorney who is admitted to the bar of this Court or who practices law in this State . . . is charged with misconduct." Indiana Rules of Court (1978).

Again, we emphasize that a trial court can punish an attorney for contempt of court. Ind.Code § 34-4-7-1 (Burns 1973). However, suspension of that attorney from the practice of law in a particular court is not among the court's available punishments for contempt. Ind.Code § 34-4-7-6 (Burns 1973).

The discretion to suspend attorneys invites abuse. The possible abuses of this power present a haunting specter. Scattered suspension throughout the trial court system would serve neither the legal profession nor the clients who would have to switch counsel while their litigation was pending because of the summary suspension of their original counsel in another cause. The orderly procedures of our Disciplinary Commission best serve the needs of this state's legal profession and its citizenry.

The suspension of appellant by the trial court in the case at bar was an...