Case Name: WILSON v. COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIGHLAND PARK
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1938-04-04
Citations: 284 Mich. 96
Docket Number: Docket No. 78, Calendar No. 39,725
Parties: WILSON v. COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIGHLAND PARK.
Judges: Wiest, C. J., and Sharpe, Chandler, and North, JJ., concurred with Potter, J.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 284
Pages: 96–106

Head Matter:
WILSON v. COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HIGHLAND PARK.
1. Officers — Removal—Misconduct.
The misconduct, misfeasance or malfeasance of an officer, to warrant removal from office, must have direct relation to and he connected with the performance of official duties and amount either to maladministration or to wilful and intentional neglect and failure to discharge the duties of the office at all.
2. Same — Removal—Crimes.
Misconduct warranting removal of an officer from office does not include acts and conduct which, though amounting to a violation of the criminal laws of the State, have no connection with the discharge of official duties.
3. Same — Separation of Official and Personal Character.
Misconduct warranting removal of an officer must he such as affects his performance of his duties as an officer and not such only as affects his character as a private individual, it being necessary, in such cases, to separate the character of the man from the character of the office and the misconduct charged be something which plaintiff did, or did not do, in his official capacity.
4. Municipal Corporations — Councilman—Removal from Office —Membership in Black Legion.
Member of council of home rule city as to whom no official misconduct was shown or claimed held, not removable from office solely because of his membership in Black Legion, a secret society of political character.
5. Costs — Public Question — Removal of Councilman.
No costs are allowed in proceeding to remove member of home rule city council because of his membership in Black Legion, a secret society of political character, a public question being involved.
Butzel, Bushnell, and McAllister, JU., dissenting.
Appeal from Wayne; Marschner (Adolph P. ), J.
Submitted January 7, 1938.
(Docket No. 78, Calendar No. 39,725.)
Decided April 4, 1938.
Rehearing denied June 14, 1938.
Proceedings before Council of the City of Highland Park for removal of R. Stanley Wilson. Plaintiff reviewed order of removal in circuit court by certiorari. Judgment affirmed. Plaintiff reviews by appeal in the nature of certiorari.
Reversed.
Walter S. Rae, for plaintiff.
Matthew H. Bishop (Earl Young, City Attorney, of counsel), for defendant.

Opinion:
Potter, J.
Plaintiff, a member of the council of the city of Highland Park, was removed from office because he was a member of the so-called Black Legion, a secret society of political character, the council finding he was a member and that his participation in the affairs of the Black Legion was highly reprehensible in a member of the common council of the city of Highland Park and rendered him incompetent to perform the duties of his office and constituted corrupt and wilful malfeasance in office and wilful misconduct to the injury of the public service. Plaintiff was removed by a vote of three to one. Thereupon, he reviewed the removal proceedings in the circuit court by certiorari where the action of the council was affirmed, and plaintiff appeals.
No fault is found with any official action of the plaintiff. It appears, so far as this record shows, his official conduct was exemplary.
Conceding the provisions of the charter of the city of Highland Park for the removal of officers are warranted by the home rule enabling act (1 Comp. Laws 1929, § 2228 et seq. [Stat. Ann. § 5.2071 et seq.]), the question is whether, conceding what was charged against plaintiff was true, it warranted the action of the council complained of. It is well settled the misconduct, misfeasance or malfeasance under our law, to warrant plaintiff's removal from office, must have direct relation to and be connected with the performance of official duties and amount either to maladministration or to wilful and intentional neglect and failure to discharge the duties of the office at all. It does not include acts and conduct which, though amounting to a violation of .the criminal laws of the State, have no connection with the discharge of official duties. The misconduct which will warrant the removal of an officer must be such as affects his performance of his duties as an officer and not such only as affects his character as a private individual. In such cases, it is necessary to separate the character of the man from the character of the office. The misconduct charged and established must be something which plaintiff did, or did not do, in his official capacity. State, ex rel. Martin, v. Burnquist, 141 Minn. 308 (170 N. W. 201, 609); Mechem, Public Offices & Officers, § 457, 458; Holliday v. Fields, 210 Ky. 179 (275 S. W. 642); Throop, Public Officers, § 367; Commonwealth v. Chambers, 1 J. J. Marsh (24 Ky.), 108; Speed v. Detroit Common Council, 98 Mich. 360 (22 L. R. A. 842, 39 Am. St. Rep. 555).
No misconduct in office, no official misconduct, is shown or claimed. The defendant council was in error in removing plaintiff. As this disposes of the case, it is unnecessary to discuss other questions raised.
Judgment reversed and proceedings quashed, but without costs, a public question being involved.
Wiest, C. J., and Sharpe, Chandler, and North, JJ., concurred with Potter, J.