Opinion ID: 1278599
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Propriety of the Order of Contempt

Text: (9a) In L.A. 31722 both Titsworth and the People argue that the order of contempt in this case was premature. Titsworth also claims that in any event the order finding him in contempt was error because, inter alia, the elements of contempt were not proved. We cannot agree that contempt was premature. It is true, as the parties have observed, that we formerly required an auditor in this situation to be made a party to a mandate action before he could be subject to contempt. ( Sargent v. Cavis (1869) 36 Cal. 552, 558; Ex parte Widber, supra, 91 Cal. 367, 370-371; Ex parte Truman (1899) 124 Cal. 387, 388 [57 P. 223].) These 19th-century cases, however, are inapposite today. They are premised on an assumption that the auditor would not be allowed to fully defend his action on the merits in a contempt proceeding  a view we clearly rejected in In re Berry (1968) 68 Cal.2d 137, 148-149 [65 Cal. Rptr. 273, 436 P.2d 273] (under California law, a person may disobey an order and raise his defenses when he is sought to be held in contempt for such disobedience). (See also Fortenbury v. Superior Court (1940) 16 Cal.2d 405, 407-408 [106 P.2d 411]; Brady v. Superior Court (1962) 200 Cal. App.2d 69, 73 [19 Cal. Rptr. 242]; Grant v. Superior Court (1963) 214 Cal. App.2d 15, 19-20 [29 Cal. Rptr. 125].) We therefore hold that the contempt proceeding in this case was not premature. (10) It is established that [i]n reviewing an adjudication of contempt, `the sole question before us is one of jurisdiction of the trial court to render the judgment under review, and in such a case the review of the evidence is limited to determining whether there was any substantial evidence to sustain the jurisdiction of the trial court.' [Citations.] More recently we said that `the responsibility of the reviewing court is merely to ascertain whether there was sufficient evidence before the trial court to sustain the judgment and order. The power to weigh the evidence rests with the trial court.' ( In re Buckley (1973) 10 Cal.3d 237, 247 [110 Cal. Rptr. 121, 514 P.2d 1201, 68 A.L.R.3d 248].) (9b) Many of Titsworth's initial contentions have been resolved today against his view. We have explained that he did indeed have the present ability to comply with the court's order [22] and that he had no legal reason to defer to the county board of supervisors. Nor do we believe that, under the circumstances of this case, the court abused its discretion in ordering payment for defense services in advance of performance of those services. [23] The gist of Titsworth's defense is that he was denied due process in the contempt proceeding. As we have explained above, however, he was before the court in the hearing on the order to show cause re contempt and had a full opportunity to raise any issue he saw fit. Indeed, he filed briefs and argued the merits of the impending contempt order. Nor do we label improper the fact that the trial court both commenced and adjudicated the proceeding; there is absolutely no evidence that the judge was `so personally embroiled with the [alleged contemner] as to make [him] unfit to sit in judgment on the contempt charge.' ( Hawk v. Superior Court (1974) 42 Cal. App.3d 108, 131 [116 Cal. Rptr. 713].) Neither are we compelled to overrule the court's contempt order simply because the judge's declaration was based on information and belief. First, we are not convinced that such allegations are impermissible under the circumstances of this case. ( Freeman v. Superior Court (1955) 44 Cal.2d 533, 537 [282 P.2d 857]; Bridges v. Superior Court (1939) 14 Cal.2d 464, 478-479 [94 P.2d 983].) Second, even if a technical defect occurred, Titsworth has not claimed  and indeed, on this record he could not show  that such deficiencies in the affidavit prejudiced any substantial right or resulted in a miscarriage of justice. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1211.5, subd. (c).) [24] We therefore conclude that Titsworth was properly found in contempt. Accordingly, his petition for habeas corpus in L.A. 31722 is denied. Reinstatement of the contempt order is stayed for 10 days from the date of finality of this opinion, however, so that Titsworth may voluntarily comply with the order. In L.A. 31723 and L.A. 31724 the alternative writs are discharged and the petitions for writs of mandate are denied.