Opinion ID: 2172304
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: due processsufficiency of facts

Text: The petitioner contends that the facts disclosed by the record are not sufficient to constitute a contempt. Petitioner's client, the plaintiff in the case of Doughty v. Anderson, sought recovery for personal injuries. Early in the testimony of plaintiff's first witness on the morning of July 6th, the Presiding Justice, on objection by defense counsel, ruled that he would exclude any testimony relating to permanent impairment of the plaintiff because of the fact that the pre-trial memorandum, prepared by counsel, had contained no claim by plaintiff for permanent impairment. The Court and counsel then went into chambers where the petitioner vigorously opposed the Justice's ruling and under the Court's direction a record of the parties' positions was carefully prepared for their use if the issue should be raised upon appeal. Following this, the Court offered the petitioner an opportunity to discontinue the trial and amend the pre-trial order to permit the disputed issue to be considered at a later trial. Petitioner declined this offer. If the petitioner believed that the Justice's ruling was in error (and we do not suggest that it was in error,) it was still his ethical duty as an officer of the Court to abide by the ruling during the trial and then, if the jury verdict required it, to exercise his well protected right to review the issue on appeal. No other conduct is consistent with fair and orderly trial procedure and with respect for the rights of the opposing party. Instead, petitioner persisted in a line of questioning designed to establish in the jurors' minds the impression that plaintiff had suffered permanent impairment. Several rulings adverse to petitioner resulted. Finally, after a ruling adverse to petitioner on another issue the petitioner announced that he would now take advantage of the offer to discontinue the trial which the Justice had made that morning. The Justice refused to allow petitioner that earlier declined privilege and the petitioner, in the presence of the jury, accused the Justice of prejudice. Petitioner's accusation of prejudice was clearly an act of contempt of court. Its immediate and obvious results were to disrupt the trial, to inject in the minds of the jurors strong resentments incompatible with the dispassionate determination of the issues before them, and to deprive both plaintiff and defendant of an early resolution of their litigation. A more extended harm to be expected from such an accusation on the part of an officer of the court is a lessening of public respect for the bench, the bar and the judicial process. The decree of the Justice below dismissing the writ of habeas corpus fairly and succinctly described the necessity of respect for the Court on the part of counsel. A Judge is a representative of the judicial system and as such must be accorded, while functioning in a courtroom, the respect which his position demands. The responsibility of a properly conducted case rests on the shoulders of the Judge who has the duty of so conducting the trial of the controversy that the solemnity and decorum of a courtroom is maintained at its highest level. Party litigants are entitled to a well ordered trial of their causes, the public expect it and they are entitled to it. Trials are open to the public and what transpires in the courtroom is of public notice and concern. The jury, counsel, litigants, witnesses, court officers, representatives of the press and spectators are all observers of courtroom proceedings. They hear and see trial action and carry a message to the public as to what might be expected by any litigant who seeks judgment in a court of law. The message they carry is dependent upon a Judge's supervision in conducting a trial and counsel's conduct including his respect for and civility to a Court. A member of the legal profession, above all others, should be sensitive to the respect a Judge is entitled to while performing his duties in a court of law and conduct himself accordingly. Petitioner asks us, in his brief, What is an attorney to do under trial conditions when he is confronted with a series of what he believes to be erroneous and prejudicial rulings from the Court? The United States Supreme Court has answered this question in Sacher v. United States, supra, 343 U.S. at p. 9, 72 S.Ct. at p. 455, 96 L.Ed. 723, cited by petitioner, saying that if the Court's ruling is adverse,    [I]t is not counsel's right to resist it or to insult the judgehis right is only respectfully to preserve his point for appeal.