Court Opinion

ID: 9443511
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 19:23:53.867765+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:29:31.467304
License: Public Domain

PICKETT, Circuit Judge
(dissenting).
Prior to the adoption of Rule 71A, condemnation proceedings authorized by federal law followed the practice established ‘by the law of the state where the action was brought. The purpose of the rule was to eliminate confusion in federal courts caused by the application of so many different statutes and to create a uniform procedure for all condemnation actions brought under federal law.
In substantially all state condemnation statutes there is a provision for the right of trial by jury. 'Rule 71A was carefully worded to protect this right but it is not absolute. We said in United States v. Theimer, 10 Cir., 199 F.2d 501, 503, “that, the parties to a condemnation proceeding are ordinarily entitled to a jury under Rule 71A (h) as a matter of right and that where demand is made for the same the judge must grant a jury trial,” unless facts appear in the case which would bring it within an exception. That exception is that the trial court, under proper circumstances, may refer the issue of compensation to a commission of three persons appointed by it. We recognized in the Theimer case that a reference should not be made in a simple condemnation proceeding but only where there exists exceptional and extraordinary circumstances. It has always been recognized by law makers and the courts that a reference should be the exception and not the rule. This was specifically provided for in Rule 53(b). The reason for this is that ordinarily all litigants should be entitled to try their cases in a court of law under the direction and control of a judge and in accordance with all of the established rules of trial procedure. Generally, references should be made only in difficult and complicated cases. The reports of the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court clearly indicated that it had this in mind when it adopted 71A. They continually referred to the advisability of a commission to determine compensation in the taking of property for large projects similar to the huge Tennessee Valley Authority project where it would not be practical to submit the same to a jury. It was also suggested that there might be other cases where, in the “interest of justice”, a reference might be justified, but nowhere is it indicated that trial by jury should not be the primary right. It is true, of course, that we cannot determine the judicial discretion of a trial judge but he must act within the power given him.
These proceedings involved a single tract of land with no improvements. The witnesses gave their estimate of value as in any other case where it is sought to establish the value of land. It is difficult to conceive of a more simple condemnation case. If the trial judge has the discretion to appoint commissioners to determine the compensation for land merely upon the grounds that it is some distance from the seat of the trial court, he would have the discretion to appoint commissioners in almost any *68case. It appears to me that we are laying the foundation for the establishment of the right of reference as the rule, not the exception.
. I agree with what the majority says concerning the untimely objection to the appointment of the commissioners in this case. I think, however, that district judges should be admonished to be particularly careful in the selection of commissioners when a reference is made. The commission in such cases acts in a quasi judicial capacity and as the trier of the facts. The court is bound by its findings unless clearly erroneous. H. F. Wilcox Oil & Gas Co. v. Diffie, 10 Cir., 186 F.2d 683, 696. Care should be used to select commissioners who have at least the qualifications of the ordinary juryman free from any interest, opinion or prejudice, and in most cases it would appear to be advisable to have at least one who has had some training in the law of evidence. For the reasons stated I would reverse the judgment.