Court Opinion

ID: 8175458
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 22:20:33.678408+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:39:56.023666
License: Public Domain

BeaNNON, Judge :
The Legislature of 1903 passed chapter 59 “to authorize the county court ‘of Kanawha county to fund the indebtedness of said county by issuing its bonds, and to authorize a special election for that purpose.” Under that act an election was held upon the question whether bonds should be issued, and the returns of the election were made and canvassed, and the result ascertained, ■and the poll books and ballots were returned to the office of the clerk of the county court. J. M. Payne and others applied to E. W. Staunton, clerk of the county court, to be allowed to inspect the poll books of said election for all the precincts of the county but he refused to do so.
Then they demanded that said clerk made them certified copies of certain ones of said poll books, offering to pay for them, but said clerk refused to make such copies. Then said Payne and others applied to the circuit court of the county by petition for a mandamus to compel the clerk to allow them to inspect said poll books, and to make such copies as they should require. An alternative mandamus was awarded, and upon its return Staunton demurred to it and moved to quash the alternative mandamus, and the court gave judgment sustaining the demurrer to the petition, and quashing the alternative mandamus, and from this judgment the plaintiffs sued out a writ of error.
One defense made by Staunton is, that the poll-books are not records or papers contemplated and provided for in section 5, chapter 111, Code, providing that “the records and papers of every court shall be open to the inspection of any person, and the *204clerk shall, when required, furnish copies thereof.” The reason given for such denial of the public character of these poll-books is, that the act of the Legislature under which the election was held viólales Art. 6, section 39, of the constitution prohibiting special or local legislation in certain cases. Staunton claims that these poll-books are not more than waste paper in his office, and that no duty rests upon him to allow inspection or make copies of them, because of the unconstitutionality of the act. We will not pass upon the validity of the act, because we do not find it imperative upon us to do so. In deference to the Legislature, it is everywhere held by the courts that courts will not pass upon this question, unless a decision upon that very point is necessary to the determination' of the ease. Edgell v. Conaway, 24 W. Va. 747. Even if we say that the act is open to such objections, still we hold that these poll books are public papers on file in a public office subject to inspection, for the purpose of this case; they are such pro hoc vice. It is of primary import that public records and papers shall be of ready access to the public, and we must be reluctant io declare that a custodian of them can restrict this right incorporated in the cited provision of the Code. We must be slow to announce that a clerk, whose duties as to their inspection and making copies of them, are purely ministerial, not discretionary, can assume the dangerous power to hold an act of the Legislature invalid and for that reason deny to citizens the right to inspect papers deposited in his office and custody only for preservation and public inspection and use because merely they originated under such a statute. We do not say that any and every paper happening to be in the clerk’s office is official, or that a.ny but legally public ones give the right to inspection; but that is not the case in this instance. These election papers have higher character. The election was held, the returns made, the result canvassed and declared and the poll-books put in the keeping of the clerk in the public office under color of law; they were actually in tire office. Section 3, chapter 117, Code, says, “all papers returned to, or filed in the clerk’s office shall be preserved therein until legally delivered out.” This only requires that they be “returned to or filed in” the office. It does not draw the refined distinction that those filed under valid law are to be preserved, while those filed under an act turning out to be unconstitutional, though filed under color of law, are simply re*205fuse or waste in tbe office. Could tbey be thrown in the street, or altered or burned by the clerk with impunity ? If citizens favorable to or against the bonds, believing a recount would sustain or defeat the proposition, should ask inspection prior to demand of recount, could they not lawfully do so ?
A question of great practical importance comes up in this case. Can a clerk asked to do .a ministerial act refuse on the ground that the statute under which he is asked to do that act is unconstitutional ? Can he say that the Legislature has violated the constitution before the statute has been judicially declared void ? Merrill on Mandamus, section 65 says: “But the courts will not consider the constitutionality of a law in a mandamus proceeding ai the instance of a ministerial officer. If he should be allowed to question the law of the land, the operations of the government would be thwarted and great confusion would result. If the law is void, the parties can appeal to the courts' for further protection. A mandamus will not be issued to compel the granting of a license under a law for a reason which, if valid, shows the law itself to be unconstitutional.” Not much consistency or clear guidance is there in that section. Merrill cites Smyth v. Fitcomb, 31 Me. 272, holding that a ministerial officer, collecting and disbursing revenue, has no right to withhold' performance of ministerial acts, prescribed by law, merely because possibly the law may be unconstitutional.” He cites People v. Soloman, 54 Ill. 39. In it an assessor refused to assess certain taxes on the ground that the law was invalid. The law was held valid; but the court broadly states the law to be that a ministerial officer cannot be allowed to decide upon the validity. “It is the duty of a ministerial officer to obey an act of the Legislature directing his action, not to question or decide upon its validity,” the court said. The fully considered case of State ex rel. v. Auditor, 47 La. Ann. 1679, holds, even against the State Auditor and Treasurer refusing to pay money under a statute allowing it, that “Executive officers of the State government have no authority to decline performance of purely ministerial duties imposed upon them by a law, on-the ground that it contravenes the constitution. Laws are presumed to be and must be treated and acted upon by subordinate executive officers as constitutional and legal until their unconstitutionality has been judicially established.” For the double purpose of showing that *206these poll-books are, for the matter involved, public papers properly in the office, and also the holding that a ministerial officer cannot refuse to file them because in his opinion, the act under which an election is held is unconstitutional, I refer to Franklin Co. v. State, 20 Am. & Eng. Corp. Cases, 60, (24 Fla. 55). The syllabus says: “A statute which requires inspectors to canvass votes of an election and make return to the county commissioners imposes upon such commissioners the duty of receiving and keeping the returns in their official custody, as records. Neither the constitutionality of such statute nor the legality of the election held thereunder can be considered by the commissioners officially; nor can the same be raised by them as ground for not performing such duty in a mandamus brought to compel its performance.” In State v. Commissioners, 18 Nebraska 506, a mandamus issued to compel commissioners to call an election, the court refusing to pass on the validity of the act, saying that the presumption is in favor of the validity of a statute, and that it is the duty of all ministerial officers to obey it until it is declared invalid. There the court by mandamus compelled an act going straight to the enforcement of the statute. The presumption that a statute is valid always operates, just how far is not clear. Some courts say that it operates until it is 'judicially declared to be void. The expression in point 2 in State v. Buchanan, 24 W. Va. 312, has this import. It is a very grave assumption of power for an officer exercising ministerial functions to say that the highest, the sole, law-making power has violated the constitution and he will therefore disobey its will. Great confusion and disorder might ensue from the exercise of such power. It should rarely be exercised — very prudently — only in plainest cases. I do not think that mandamus will go to compel an officer to do an act going directly to execute an invalid statute. I do not see that a court will take affirmative action to enforce it. But this is not a mandamus to enforce the statute. It is not to compel officers to hold, return, declare the result of, or issue bonds under, the statute. The demand upon the clerk did not call for an act on his part to enforce the statute in question; it was made under the Code, section given above, allowing inspection and copies, and the contested statute does not enter into the matter, except from the fact that the documents were created under it. And the poll-books did not go to the enforcement of *207that statute, as they were to be used only as evidence to punish frauds in elections. So, the court was not asked to enforce the statute condemned as invalid. In support of the position that mandamus will not be awarded to compel the direct enforcement of a statute against the constitution it may be useful to give some cases. A mandamus was sought to compel a town clerk to assess a tax; but the court, holding that the statute commanding it was unconstitutional, it was refused. State v. Tappan, 29 Wis. 664. A statute required supervisors to divide counties into districts. Mandamus refused to compel them. Van Horn v. State, 46 Neb. 62. Mandamus refused to compel canvassing board to count ballots as directed by the statute. Maynard v. Board, 84 Mich. 288, (11 L. R. A. 332). Mandamus refused to compel controller to draw warrant to pay a demand allowed by a statute. Patty v. Colgan, 97 Cal. 251. Mandamus refused to pay bond. Brandenstein v. Hoke, 101 Id. 131. Mandamus refused to compel payment of judge’s salary. Madamount v. Dinie, 6 N. Dak. 278. So to compel issue of town bonds to build a railroad. People v. Bachellor, 58 N. Y. App. 128. These are the cases where mandamus would operate directly to execute the unconstitutional law. For this reason I do not doubt the text of 19 Am. & Eng. Ency. L. (2nd ed.) 1090, that “it is the prevailing rule that ministerial officers charged by a certain act with a duty may urge the unconstitutionality of the act as a defense to mandamus to compel them to perform the duty.” An officer surely can refuse to do an act not imposed upon him as a duty by law. “An unconstitutional act is not a law; it confers no right; it imposes no duty; it affords no protection; it creates no office; it is, in legal contemplation, as inoperative as though it had never been passed.” Norton v. Shelby County, 118 U. S. 425. Though in 1813 in Custis v. Lane, 3 Munf. 579, the eminent Judge Eoane said that it was a grave question whether action would lie against an officer acting in obedience to a legislative act found to be in conflict with the constitution, it is at this day fully settled that such an act is no law and affords no protection to a ministerial officer for an act doing harm to another. Norton v. Shelby County, 118 U. S. 425; Mechen on Pub. Offices, section 662; Fisher v. McGirr, 61 Am. D. 381; 23 Am. & Eng. Ency. L. 369, (2nd ed.) “When an act is adjudged to be unconsititutional, it is as if it never had been. *208Rights cannot be built up under it; contracts which depend upon it for their consideration are void; it constitutes a protection to no one who has acted under it, and no one can be punished for having refused obedience to it before the decision was made.” Cooley, Con. Lim. 259, (7th ed.). It would seem to be logical and just that an officer has right to refuse to act under a void statute on the principle of self preservation. But in so doing he acts at his peril; for if he is mistaken, he is liable for non-feasance of duty. “If it is unconstitutional no one is obliged to obey. If constitutional it binds every one to obedience. Disobedience on such ground is always at the peril of the party disobeying whether a private individual or a public officer.” Clark v. Miller, 54 N. Y. 528. As he cannot be compelled to act, cannot be sued or punished for not acting, it follqws that he may refuse to do an act under a void statute. The case of the State v. Butler, 77 S. W. 560, is a well considered, elaborate case, based on this principle. An. indictment was found against a person for attempt to bribe an officcer to vote in a certain way in discharging a duty under a city ordinance, and the Supreme Court of Missouri held the ordinance void, and that it imposed no legal duty, and therefore there could be no bribery to do the act. Under this doctrine I would hold that if the duty asked of Staunton went to execute the act, and if the act were void, he could not be compelled to perform it.
It is contended by Staunton that the plaintiffs cannot join in a mandamus; that each individual has a separate right, not joint, and cites 13 Ency. PI. & Prac. 645, reading: “Those who have a common and joint interest” may join in mandamus, and should join. Without strain, it may be said that all citizens have a common interest in seeing that records in a clerk’s office are preserved and that proper inspection be granted, as it is that the county be supplied with a court house. Is this not a matter of common public right, and may not citizens unite to vindicate it ? But these plaintiffs united in a demand for inspection-; the demand was joint; the refusal to all in common; the wrong done, one single wrong to all alike.
The plaintiffs say that Staunton could not refuse them inspection because he has no such pecuniary interest as will enable him to faise the question of the constitutionality of the act of the Legislature, and this upon the legal principle that courts do *209not hear "an objection made to the constitutionality of an act by a party whose rights it does not effect, and who has therefore no interest in defeating it.” Cooley Con. Lira 232; Lampsell v. Bell, 180 U. S. 276; 6 Am. & Eng. Ency. L. 1080. The plaintiffs say that all Staunton had to do was to> keep the records and allow inspection, and make copies for pay. So Judge JOHNSON remarked of the assessor in State v. Buchanan, 24 W. Va. 375. But it doe^ not strike me that an officer, as regards his individual interest, is compelled to spend time and labor to do a thing which the law does not impose upon him as a duty. He has an actual, we may say valuable or pecuniary interest in resisting. But then many cases, several cited above, allow an officer called on to exercise his office to resist mandamus by pleading the constitution against the statute. He is actually interested in the matter.
We now encounter a question raised by Staunton’s demurrer to the petition and motion to quash the mandamus nisi, which question is, whether the plaintiffs present to the court such interest in the documents and purpose in their inspection as entitles them to inspection and mandamus to secure it. “The remedy by mandamus is restricted to cases where the relator is deprived of some pecuniary right.” “A mere abstract right, unattended by any substantial benefit to the relator, will not be enforced by mandamus.” 19 Am. & Eng. Ency. L. (2nd ed.) 884, 758. “To maintain his mandamus in such a case (private right) the relator must show some personal or special interest in the matter.” Merrill on Mandamus, section 228. As to the private individual right of the plaintiffs. The election was over. They do not say that its result was unsatisfactory, or that it had been falsely declared, or that they sought by recount or contest to change it, or that they had been denied their votes, or that the election had already prejudiced them, or that they were harmed. They do not point out how they as individuals had any pecuniary interest, or sought by the documents to vindicate such interest. They do not say that they had suffered or would suffer a penny’s loss because of the election, or that they had been, or would be detrimented thereby. Therefore, as individuals, they show no actual interest or loss or damaged right to be vindicated by the inspection of the writ. They say they are citizens, voters and taxpayers of the county; but it is not seen *210tbat the fact gives them any individual right over persons not such asking inspection of records. Could they sustain an action against Staunton for damages? They could not.
Can the plaintiffs sustain their case upon the theory that they represent and seek to vindicate the public right? They do not sue for themselves and others, but only as themselves citizens, taxpayers and voters. Where a clear public right common to the community at large is wronged and calls for vindication, some eases hold that it must be done by the public officer, others that citizens may do so. 13 Ency. Pl. & Prac. 630. Merrill on Mandamus, section 230 says: “The great weight of American authority is to the effect that where relief is sought in a public matter or a matter of public right, the people at large are the real party, and any citizen is entitled to a writ of mandamus to enforce the performance of a public duty.” This is likely the true rule, as otherwise often the public interest would deeply suffer. On this theory this Court has entertained mamdctmus to compel building of a bridge, a court-house, and to declare the result of an election upon change of county seat. Doolittle v. County Court, 28 W. Va. 158; Brown v. Randolph County, 45 Id. 727; State v. County Court, 47 Id. 672; Morgan v. Wetzel County, 53 Id. 372, (44 S. E. 182). Though not cases of mam-damns, as showing that citizens have such interest as enables them to prosecute proper proceedings in public matters, I refer to Osborne v. Staley, 5 W. Va. 85; Hamilton v. County Court, 38 Id. 71, and citations; Welch v. County Court, 29 Id. 63; Davis v. Brown, 46 Id. 716.
Conceding the right of citizens, taxpayers and voters to judicial process to defend or promote the public weal or interest, still what is the public interest in this case that is to be defended, promoted, established? The election over; no recount asked; no objection made to its result; no future public interest to be advanced by interference with it. The petition says the proposition to issue bonds was defeated; and it is not proposed to contest that result. That is ended. The petition proposes to do nothing whatever to effect that election or any right dependent upon or arising from it. That petition sets forth only one purpose in view. It says that in certain precincts frauds and irregularities were committed by the officers of the election, in conducting it and declaring its result, that persons were recorded as *211voting who did not vote, and that the officers “stuffed” and “padded” the ballot-boxes, as would be shown by the poll-books; and that inspection and copies of them were sought in order to know whether such officers had honestly and lawfully performed their duties, and for the purpose of instituting criminal prosecutions against them, if the disclosure of the facts should warrant it. It would be a fishing writ. Will mandamus go for this purpose? I -repeat the rule that mandamus is restricted “to cases where the relator is deprived of some pecuniary right.” Where is the pecuniary interest in the plaintiffs or the public? “Mandamus is applied to the protection of civil rights.” Merrill on Mandamus, section 61. No criminal warrant is asked. In People v. Masonic, &c., 98 Ill. 635, a mandamus was asked to compel officers of a Masonic Society to declare the adoption of an amendment to the constitution of the body. The case holds: “Pecuniary interest must be involved. Mandamus will not be awarded to a party until he shows that he has .a clear legal right, which is denied, and that the denial of the right affects his pecuniary interest. It will not be granted to settle a mere fancy question.” In State v. St. Louis Paint Co. 21 Mo. App. 526, it is held that every application for this writ must state two essential requisites; first, the legal duty imposed upon the defendant to do the thing asked; second, a pecuniary interest not to be compensated in damages. The individuals must have this interest; or the public must have a substantial, actual right in having the act done. What interest had the public in the inspection, or in having copies? I have seen no case holding that mandamus will issue merely and only to glean evidence for criminal prosecution. Equity will not entertain a bill of discovery to do so.
It becomes pertinent in this connection to see how far the right to inspect records goes. It is virtually claimed by the plaintiffs to be unlimited. True, the words of our statute are broad in saying that records shall “be open to the inspection of any persons,” and so State v. Long, 37 W. Va. 266 says, using the words of the statute. As Clark had a plain right of inspection for business, it was not necessary to go far in interpretation of the law. Does the statute mean that inspection is for every one for pastime, whim, fancy ? Is the right of inspection to be *212granted under all circumstances? An Alabama statute said: "The records of the judge of probate’s office must be free for examination of all persons.’’ It was held that the right was "limited to any person having an interest,” and that it did not confer the right on those engaged in negotiating loans on mortgage to make abstracts to all land in the county for future business use. Randolph v. State, 60 Am. D. 761. Two former casse there cited held that examination was “not the unqualified right of every citizen * * * and the individual who claims access to the records * * * can properly be required to show that he has an interest in 'the documents, and that the inspection is for a legitimate purnose. The qualification of the rule is that no person can demand the right save those who have an interest in the record.” The right to make abstracts or copies for speculative purposes in compiling abstracts was denied in Weber v. Worth, 43 Mich. 534, (38 Am. R. 213). The right is not given “to all indiscriminately who may, for curiosity or otherwise, desire the same, but is limited to those who have some interest therein.” In Cormack v. Wolcott, 37 Kan. 391, the statute reads: "All books required to be in their offices shall be open for the examination of any person.” The court said that the common law gave inspection to only those having interest in the land or subject of the record. 4 Am. & Eng. Ency. L. 182, (2nd c-d.) The court said the inspection must be under the eye of the clerk and under reasonable rules made by him. “The right claimed by the plaintiff for himself and every other person to inspect the records at will, and make copies, must of equal necessity be governed. If the right exists, it exists for all.” The court said that under an unlimited right the office might be clogged, the use of the books engrossed for simply private ends, and they diverted from the public use designed. Eight to make general abstracts of title for business was denied. The Colorado statute said the books "shall be open for the examination for all persons.” The court refused mandamus to allow abstract makers to abstract the entire land titles of the county for sale. “It matters not that relators require no aid from him; for he is charged with the safe keeping and preservation of the records, and is responsible for their truthfulness and freedom from mutilation. A single stroke of the pen, the erasure or addition *213of a single word, may change the character of a eon.Yeyan.ee, or destroy the most valuable property right. The clerk is unfaithful to his trust if he allows one of the record books to remain for an instant in the hand of a stranger out of his sight.” Even where a statute gave a stockholder of a corporation right to examine its records, in mandamus it was required to plead and prove some property right involved, that some controversy existed, or that somé specific and valuable interest was in question, to settle which an inspection of the documents was necessary. Ellsworth, v. Borwart, 58 Am. St. R. 427.
“Any person who has an existing interest in information to be obtained from public records in any county office has a right to make an examination to the extent of his interest,” under an act saying that records “shall be open for the examination for any person.” Boylan v. Warren, 7 Am. St. R. 551. See 60 Am. R. 764, full note; 24 Am. & Eng: Ency. L., (2nd. ed). 183. Under the law, common and statute, I think we may say, that when it comes to the test, under strict law, when mandamus is asked to compel inspection, the plaintiff must have some legal right to have inspection for legitimate use. Mechen on Public Officers so regards the authorities. In section 687 we read: “It is the duty of the clerk to permit persons having a present or prospective interest in the particular public records in his office to inspect and copy the same at reasonable times and under reasonable regulations. The performance of this duty may be enforced by mandamusThe case of Barber v. West Jersey, 53 N. J. Eq. 158, holds that “every person has right of access to the public records of the county clerk’s office, without payment of fees, to examine any title in which he is interested, subject to reasonable rules and regulations.” It held that an abstracting company had right of inspection to examine title to a “particular piece of property, but not to occupy the office to make a general abstract.”
I think that the plaintiffs as citizens and taxpayers had right to inspection, it not appearing but that they desired a recount to change the result. I think people have right to inspect public papers, unless it appears that their object is an improper one, for whim or scandal, as the publication of indecent evidence in a divorce suit tending to degrade the parties and injure public morals, or any other improper or useless purpose. But when it *214does so appear, then there is no right of inspection. How far a clerk may inquire into the purpose we need not say. I have said SO' much on this point because State v. Long, 37 W. Va. 266, is relied upon as giving unlimited right of inspection, and because that case does not enter far into the subject, and I have thought the decisions here given may be of public use. What interest have the plaintiffs on which to predicate the demand? What object which the public interest or law can realize to sub-serve? “The judicial records of the state should always be accessible to the people for all proper purposes, under reasonable restrictions as to the time and mode of examining the same, but no one has a right to examine or obtain copies from mere curiosity, or for the purpose of creating public scandal.” In re Caswell, 49 Am. St. R. 814. I am not for a moment to be taken to intimate the slightest impeachment of the honest public motive of the worthy men who seek this mandamus. I do not doubt their motive; but I am stating legal principles as I see them.
And it is a fixed rule that if there be other remedy to accomplish the end sought, mandamus does not lie. The only end stated is to gather evidence for criminal prosecution. The grand jury is the medium of that end. It can send for persons and papers, and bring offenders to justice. Citizens cannot meddle in prosecutions save in the appointed modes, by becoming prosecutors or informants before grand juries or by recourse to criminal process. We do not think they can use mandamus for such purpose.
Judgement affirmed.

Affirmed.