Title: In Re Estate of Hupp

State: kansas

Issuer: Kansas Supreme Court

Document:

178 Kan. 672 (1955)
291 P.2d 428
In the Matter of the Estate of Katherine E. Hupp, Deceased.
(SARAH E. DILLMAN and LOUISE PROUTY, Petitioners and Appellants,
v.
L.J. NELSON, Executor of the Estate of Katherine E. Hupp, Deceased;
LOUIS SPANGLER and EDWIN O. PETERS, Respondents and Appellees.)
No. 39,961

Supreme Court of Kansas.
Opinion filed December 10, 1955.
Bernard Peterson and J.G. Somers, both of Newton, argued the cause, and John W. Plummer, George A. Robb and Forrest A. Wilson, all of Newton, were with them on the briefs for the appellants.
J. Rodney Stone, of Newton, argued the cause and was on the brief for Edwin O. Peters, appellee.
Lelus B. Brown, of Newton, argued the cause and was on the brief for Louis Spangler, appellee.
Cliff Morgan, of Newton, was on the brief for L.J. Nelson, Executor, appellee.
The opinion of the court was delivered by
PARKER, J.:
This is the second appearance of this action in this *673 court (See In re Estate of Hupp, 177 Kan. 202, 277 P.2d 618). The appeal is from a judgment denying petitioners' claim against the estate of Katherine E. Hupp, deceased, and from all other adverse rulings.
It goes without saying that the issues now to be reviewed are dependent upon later events and proceedings. Nevertheless, since this cause was determined by the court below on the record in the first case it is particularly important that readers of this opinion understand the facts, circumstances and conditions governing our decision in the first appeal. They are clearly and succinctly set forth in the opinion of that decision where they can be found by reference when required for purposes essential to the disposition of this appeal. For that reason they will not be here detailed or repeated.
After the first appeal, wherein this court held that the trial court had reached its decision on an erroneous premise and thus left it with no alternative than to grant a new trial, the first move on the part of claimants was to file a petition in the court below requesting that the district judge, who had tried the first case, should remove himself from the trial of the cause and all further proceedings to be had therein.
This petition discloses the ground of disqualification relied on and is not too lengthy to preclude its quotation. Omitting formal averments, matters of no consequence and the prayer it reads:
Subsequent to a hearing on the foregoing petition the district judge denied the relief therein sought. It is interesting to note the record discloses that in making such ruling he made the following statement:
Following the ruling on the petition for disqualification the cause, as has been heretofore indicated, was submitted to the trial court on the previous record. Thereafter such court made findings of fact and conclusions of law, one of which conclusion is similar in substance to conclusion of law No. 4, as it appears in the petition heretofore quoted, and then, in conformity with such findings of fact and conclusions of law, rendered judgment, as it did in the first case, denying the petitioners' claim. Motions to set aside and vacate the findings of fact and conclusions of law and for a new trial were then filed by petitioners. When these were overruled they perfected the instant appeal where, under proper specifications of *676 error, they now challenge the propriety of each and all of the rulings to which reference has been heretofore made as well as the judgment.
The first of numerous specified errors is that the trial judge erred in refusing to disqualify himself upon the petitioners' verified application because he had theretofore judicially determined the salient question involved. Since, if it is to be upheld, other specifications of error become immaterial so far as disposition of the cause is concerned we turn directly to the issue it raises.
There can be no doubt regarding the basic principle upon which provisions of our statute (See G.S. 1949, 20-305 and 60-511) relating to the disqualification of judges rest. Long ago in Tootle v. Berkley, 60 Kan. 446, 56 Pac. 755, we held:
Mindful of the fundamental concept from which it stems we are impelled to conclude the corollary of the rule just above stated is that when circumstances and conditions surrounding litigation are of such nature they might cast doubt and question as to the fairness or impartiality of any judgment the trial judge may pronounce, such judge, even though he is not conscious of any bias or prejudice, should disqualify himself and permit the case in question to be tried before a judge pro tem.
Moreover in view of the foregoing rules, as well as our statute, all must admit it is the duty of this court to maintain and safeguard the right of trial by a fair and impartial tribunal and to be vigilant in seeing to it that every possible semblance of reasonable doubt or suspicion on that question is removed and eliminated to the end that justice may be properly administered.
In our opinion application of the foregoing rules and proper exercise of appellate obligation with respect to the peculiar factual situation existing in this case makes disposition of the issue now under consideration comparatively simple. Resort to the record discloses that in the first case the trial judge made finding of fact No. 12 and conclusion of law No. 4, set forth at length in the petition for disqualification. The same source reveals the fact, which in view of the heretofore quoted statement made by him in denying the petition for disqualification in the second case cannot be successfully challenged or denied, that the trial court on the basis of no evidence whatsoever was able to conclude, as a matter of law, on what this *677 court has specifically determined was actually the only issue in the case, that Katherine E. Hupp did not enter into a verbal agreement with her sisters (the petitioners herein) that she would leave, will or devise all of her property to her nieces and nephews, the children of such petitioners.
In the face of what has been heretofore stated and pointed out the composite or collective impression gained by careful consideration of the over-all situation, as it existed at the time of the overruling of the petition for disqualification, forces this court to the conclusion that it would be better for all parties concerned, and of a certainty conducive to the best interests of the judiciary in general, if the trial judge had sustained the petition for disqualification and permitted the case to be tried by a judge pro tem. Therefore we hold that it was error for him to refuse to do so.
In reaching the foregoing conclusion we have not overlooked, but rejected as here inapplicable, the rule announced in Sheldon v. Board of Education, 134 Kan. 135, 4 P.2d 430, wherein it is held that "Previous adverse rulings of a trial judge, although numerous and erroneous, where they are subject to review, are not ordinarily and alone sufficient to show such bias or prejudice as would disqualify him as judge." All we now hold is that the existing circumstances and conditions, as herein outlined, are such as to cast doubt and question on the impartiality of any judgment the trial judge may pronounce and that for that reason, and it alone, he should have granted the petition for disqualification.
Nor have we ignored contentions advanced by appellants that even though the trial judge did not disqualify himself when he should have done so they are entitled to judgment on the record, because of other errors alleged and ruled on, in a case where such judge went ahead and proceeded to render a judgment against them. We are cited to and know of no authorities warranting any such action.
The judgment is reversed and a new trial granted with directions that the district judge grant the petition for disqualification and that the cause proceed thereafter in the manner contemplated by statute.
It is so ordered.