Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/228/339/
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 14:28:01+00:00

Document:
Justia › US Law › US Case Law › US Supreme Court › Volume 228 › Rexford v. Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co.
The disqualification under § 3 of the Court of Appeals Act of 1891 arises not only when the judge has tried or heard the whole cause in the court below, but also when he has tried or heard any question therein upon which it is the duty of the circuit court of appeals to pass.
Under § 3 of the Court of Appeals Act of 1891, a judge is not disqualified from sitting in a cause because he had previously passed upon a motion which did not involve a nonwaivable question of jurisdiction if the parties voluntarily and unequivocally eliminate all the questions involved in the motion from consideration by the circuit court of appeals.
The time for filing a petition for removal is not essential to the jurisdiction of the federal court, and may be the subject of waiver or estoppel.
Judges of federal courts should avoid asking counsel if objections to the jurisdiction of the court are withdrawn, as the withdrawal of such objections, to be effectual, must be purely voluntary.
A decree of the Circuit Court adjudging right of possession to one of the parties but appointing a special master to take evidence as to identity of the articles, is not final, but interlocutory only and therefore is not appealable.
The Act of 1891 does not permit an appeal to the circuit court of appeals from a judgment that does not finally dispose of the whole case.
The facts, which involve the construction of the Circuit Court of Appeals Act as to disqualification of judges to sit on the trial of cases and as to what judgments are reviewable by the circuit court of appeals, are stated in the opinion.
"And, it appearing to the court that the rights of the defendant in this action depend primarily on several questions of law based on documentary evidence of its title to the trees in question;"
"And, it further appearing to the court that it would facilitate the hearing of said cause if such documentary evidence were offered and such preliminary question of title first disposed of by the court;"
of fact in this cause be held in abeyance until said preliminary questions are disposed of by the court."
"to take proofs of all and singular the issues herein (except the evidence in the cause heretofore heard by this court), especially to take evidence concerning the identity of certain marked trees described in the pleadings, and to report the number and identity of such trees, and to ascertain and report his findings to this Court."
Without awaiting the incoming of the report of the special master or the action of the court thereon, the plaintiff prayed and was allowed an appeal from the decree before described to the circuit court of appeals, and the decree was there affirmed. 181 F. 462. The plaintiff then petitioned this Court for a writ of certiorari, which was allowed.
The facts bearing on this question are these: the suit was begun in a state court, and was removed to the circuit court by the defendant on the ground of diverse citizenship. The amount in controversy and the citizenship of the parties were concededly such as to admit of the removal, but the plaintiff, conceiving that the right of removal was not seasonably asserted, moved on that ground alone that the suit be remanded to the state court. The motion was denied, and the plaintiff excepted. When the cause came on for hearing in the circuit court of appeals, the district judge, who had heard and denied the motion to remand (but had done nothing else in the case), was sitting as one of the judges of that court in virtue of an assignment under the Court of Appeals Act. Counsel for the plaintiff thereupon suggested the question whether the district judge was disqualified to sit on the hearing of the appeal, and the court inquired whether the objection to the removal would be insisted upon. Counsel for the plaintiff answered that "it would not," and that he "believed the case had been properly removed." The hearing then proceeded, the district judge sitting as one of the judges and participating in the decision, which made no mention of the objection to the removal, doubtless because it was regarded as expressly withdrawn. In the petition for certiorari and in the supporting brief, the plaintiff, although admitting the above colloquy, insisted that the district judge was nevertheless disqualified.
in the attitude of passing upon the propriety, scope, or effect of any ruling of his own made in the progress of the cause in the court of first instance, and, to this end, the disqualification is made to arise not only when the judge has tried or heard the whole cause in the court below, but also when he has tried or heard any question therein which it is the duty of the circuit court of appeals to consider and pass upon. American Construction Co. v. Jacksonville &c., Co. 148 U. S. 372, 148 U. S. 387; Moran v. Dillingham, 174 U. S. 153. That the question may be easy of solution, or that the parties may consent to the judge's participation in its decision, can make no difference, for the sole criterion under the statute is does the case in the circuit court of appeals involve a question which the judge has tried or heard in the course of the proceedings in the court below?
"The existence of diverse citizenship or other equivalent condition of jurisdiction is fundamental; the want of it will be taken notice of by the Court of its own motion, and cannot be waived by either party. Manchester &c. Railway. v. Swan, 111 U. S. 379. But the time of filing a petition for removal is not essential to the jurisdiction; the provision on that subject is, in the words of Mr. Justice Bradley, 'but modal and formal,' and a failure to comply with it may be the subject of waiver or estoppel."
Of course, to be of any effect, the withdrawal of the question which the judge has tried or heard in the lower court must be purely voluntary. The record shows that it was so in this instance, and counsel for the plaintiff has not suggested the contrary. But, that our ruling may not be misapprehended, we deem it well to observe that the court should avoid such an inquiry as was made of counsel in this case, lest it be mistaken for an invitation to withdraw the question. Our ruling rests on the ground that there was no such mistake here.
With the question arising on the removal proceedings eliminated, as we think it was by counsel's declaration, there was left no ground for regarding the district judge as disqualified.
a final hearing and decree. Further proofs were yet to be taken, and not until that was done could the entire controversy presented by the pleadings be adjudicated. This was recognized by the retention of the case for further orders and by the subsequent reference to a special master to take the remaining proofs. Plainly, such a decree is not appealable. If it were, the case could be taken to the appellate court in fragments by successive appeals. But this the law wisely prevents by postponing the right of appeal until there is a final decree disposing of the whole case. Perkins v. Fourniquet, 6 How. 206; Grant v. Phoenix Ins. Co., 106 U. S. 429; McGourkey v. Toledo & Ohio Ry. Co., 146 U. S. 536; Covington v. Covington First National Bank, 185 U. S. 270; Ex Parte National Enameling & Stamping Co., 201 U. S. 156.
As the circuit court of appeals erred in entertaining the appeal, its decision is vacated, and the case is remanded to the district court, as successor to the circuit court, with directions to proceed to a final disposition of the case in regular course.

References: v. 
 § 3
 § 3
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v.