Case ID: mich_42/html/0592-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Marston, G. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Benjamin H. Ruberts v. A. L. Hathaway and Joseph Finsterwald.
    
      Justice’s courts — Absence of justice at time for opening court.
    
    Where, on the adjourned day of a cause, a justice was absent half an hour over time in the performance of official duties not pertaining to his judicial office, and on his return, upon defendant’s refusal to appear, adjourned the cause in his absence and gave him notice of the adjournment, and on the nest adjourned day gave judgment against him in his absence, it was held that the judgment must be reversed.
    Error to Mason.
    Submitted Jan. 23.
    Decided Jan. 23.
    Assumpsit. Plaintiff brings error.
    
      Hiram A. Sutherland for plaintiff in error.
    If there is any reasonable excuse for the absence of a justice beyond the hour appointed for trial, such as engagement in official duties, he may proceed and give judgment, Hunt v. Wickwire, 10 Wend., 102; Barber v. Parker, 11 Wend., 52; Cornell v. Bennett, 11 Barb., 657; Chamberlain v. Lovet, 12 Johns., 217; Wilde v. Dunn, 11 Johns., 459; Myer v. Fisher, 15 Johns., 504; Baldwin v. Carter, id., 496.
    
      Fitch & Samuels for defendant m error Finsterwald.
    As to what constitutes a public office the duties of which will excuse the absence of a justice at the time for trying a cause, see Bradford v. Justices, 33 Ga., 332.
   Marston, G. J.

Upon the adjourned day of a cause the justice was absent in the performance of duties as superintendent of the poor. He returned to his office about half an hour after the expiration of one hour from the time to which the cause had been adjourned. The defendant was not then present, but the justice found him near by and informed him that he was then ready to proceed with the trial of the cause. The defendant refused to appear. The justice then adjourned the ease and caused notice to be served on the defendant of such adjournment. On such adjourned day, the defendant not appearing, the cause was tried and judgment rendered against him.

The justice was not absent in the performance of any official duty as justice, but in the performance of the duties of another office held under an appointment of the board of supervisors.

The case does not come within Stadler v. Moors, 9 Mich., 268, nor within the reason of that and kindred authorities.

The judgment of the circuit court reversing the justice’s judgment must be affirmed with costs.

The other Justices concurred.