Court Opinion

ID: 9551551
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:55:06.612398+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:24:07.477647
License: Public Domain

Williams, J.
(concurring specially) — There are many cases which hold that when a trial court grants a new trial based upon the record, it must comply with CR 59(f) by giving “definite reasons of law and facts for its order.” See P. Trautman, New Trials for Failure of Substantial Justice, 37 Wash. L. Rev. 367 (1962). The only unusual feature of this case is that the court was sitting without a jury. However, Follis v. Brinkman, 51 Wn.2d 310, 317 P.2d 1061 (1957), was tried to the judge alone and is right in point. There the Supreme Court said:
It is clear that something about the case concerned or bothered the trial judge. We are sympathetic and ha.ve tried to understand; but he has given no clear indication as to what his underlying difficulty might have been. Under the circumstances, there is simply nothing for us to review.
Follis v. Brinkman, supra at 313.
Waiver is not in the case. For good reason, a judge may *632disqualify himself at any stage of a proceeding, even in the absence of objection by counsel.