Case Name: ATTORNEY GENERAL, ex rel. COOK, v. BURHANS
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1942-12-23
Citations: 304 Mich. 108
Docket Number: Docket No. 35, Calendar No. 42,007
Parties: ATTORNEY GENERAL, ex rel. COOK, v. BURHANS.
Judges: Boyles, North, Bijtzel, Bushnell, and Sharpe, JJ., concurred with Wiest, J.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 304
Pages: 108–120

Head Matter:
ATTORNEY GENERAL, ex rel. COOK, v. BURHANS.
' 1. Officers — State Legislator — Regent of University — Elections. "
Pursuant to mandatory provisions of the Constitution, votes east at popular election to elect defendant a regent of the State university during the term for which he had been elected and was serving as a member of the State legislature were' •void (Const. 1908, art. 5, § 7).
2. Quo Warranto — Parties—Attorney General — Regent of University.
Quo warranto proceeding by attorney general to oust State senator from office of regent of State university was proper since defendant, who claimed election thereto during term for which he had been elected and was serving as a State legislator, had not received votes capable of being recognized and was a usurper of the office of regent (Const. 1908, art. 5, § 7).
3. Colleges and Universities — University of Michigan.
The University of Michigan is a State institution with obligation on the legislature to maintain it.
4. Same — Regents of University — Body Corporate — Status— Duties.
The regents of the University of Michigan are State officers and, as the hoard of regents, constitute a body corporate that is a department of the State government having general supervision of the university and the direction and control of all expenditures from the university funds (Const. 1908, art. U §§4,5).
5. Quo Warranto — Effect of Ouster — Officers—Vacancies.
Ouster of usurper of office of a regent of the State university by information in nature of quo warranto by the attorney general on relation of party receiving third highest number of votes at election in, which two members were to be elected created a vacancy in the office to bo filled by governor pursuant to special constitutional provision for filling vacancies in such office (Const. 1908, art. 11, §3; art. 16, §5; 1 Comp. Laws 1929, § 3350).
6. Costs — Quo Warranto — Public Officers.
No costs are awarded in quo warranto proceedings to oust usurper from office of regent of the university of Michigan.
Chandler, C. J., and Starr, J., dissenting in part.
Information in the nature of quo warranto by Herbert J. Rushton, Attorney General, upon tbe relation of Franklin M. Cook, to determine title to tbe office of Regent of the University of Michigan.
Submitted October 7, 1942.
(Docket No. 35, Calendar No. 42,007.)
Ouster granted December 23, 1942.
Miller, Canfield, Paddock S Stone, for plaintiff and relator.
Earl L. Burhans, in pro per.

Opinion:
Wiest, J.
Tbe attorney general, ex rel. Franklin M. Cook, by information in tbe nature of qilo warranto, seeks ouster of defendant from tbe office of 'regent of tbe University of Michigan on tbe, ground that be has no legal right to tbe office and is a mere usurper therein and also asks tbe court to adjudicate that Franklin M. Cook is tbe regent. Defendant by answer asserts right to bold tbe office by valid election thereto. At tbe biennial State election in April, 1941, two regents of tbe University of Michigan were to be elected and defendant was a candidate. At that time he was a member of the State senate and is still such officer. The board of State canvassers found that .defendant received 410,767 votes, Alfred B. Connable, 409,672, Franklin M. Cook, relator herein, 408,438, and some lesser votes for other candidates, and certified the election of defendant and Connable to the secretary of State. Defendant filed his oath of office as regent and has since acted as such.
Defendant is not a regent of the University of Michigan, for every vote cast for him at such election was void under article 5, § 7, of the Michigan Constitution, which reads:
"No person elected a member of the legislature shall receive any civil appointment within this State or to the senate of the United States from the governor, except notaries public, or from the governor and senate, from the legislature, or any other State authority, during the term for which he is elected. All such appointments and all votes given for any person so elected for any such office or appointment shall be void."
This provision applies to elections and its mandate must be obeyed. Fyfe v. Kent County Clerk, 149 Mich. 349.
Defendant having usurped the office of regent, in defiance of the mandate of the Constitution barring him under any circumstances from holding such office and rendering all votes cast for him void, it was proper for the attorney geheral to bring this proceeding in the nature of quo warranto to oust him from such office. The provision in the Constitution not only rendered defendant ineligible to the office but- to prevent his intrusion therein rendered every vote cast for him void. Defendant re ceived no votes capable of being recognized by law.
Defendant contends that regents- of the university are not State officers but only officers of the corporate body known as the board of regents of the university.
The university is a State institution, with obligation on the legislature to maintain it. the regents are State officers and, as the board* of regents, constitute the body corporate known as the "Regents of the University of Michigan" and have the general supervision of the University and the direction and control of all expenditures from the university funds. Const. 1908, art. 11, § 5. In People, for use of Regents of the University of Michigan, v. Brooks, 224 Mich. 45, we held the board of regents is a department of the State government created by the Constitution to perform State functions.
Defendant is a usurper in the office of regent and a writ of ouster will issue if necessary to remove him therefrom. This ouster creates a vacancy in the office of regent.
The statute, 1 Comp. Laws 1929, § 3350 (Stat. Ann. § 6.693), provides that:
"Every office shall become vacant, on the happening of either of the following events, before the expiration of the term of such office:
"6. The decision of a competent tribunal, declaring void bis election or appointment."
The Constitution of 1908, art. 16, § 5, provides:
"The legislature may provide by law the cases in which any office shall be deemed vacant and the manner of filling vacancies, where no provision is made in this Constitution."
The Constitution also provides in art., 11, § 3:
"When a vacancy shall occur in the office of regent it shall be filled by appointment of the governor. 5 '
The ouster of Mr. Burhans creates a vacancy to be filled by the governor. No costs.
Boyles, North, Bijtzel, Bushnell, and Sharpe, JJ., concurred with Wiest, J.
See Const. 1908, art. 11, § 4.—Reporter.