DocketNumber： Crim. 16621
Judges： Sullivan, Mosk
Filed Date： 10/19/1973
Status： Precedential
Modified Date： 11/2/2024
Opinion
In this proceeding in habeas corpus,
The alleged contempt occurred in open court during the jury trial of a criminal case in which petitioner represented the defendant. In the course of the case in defense, petitioner unexpectedly called as a witness the prosecutor Mr. Brian, a deputy district attorney.
We shall set forth in some detail the subsequent events so that the alleged contempt can be viewed in its proper setting.
Asserting that he had the right to call the prosecutor or any other witness, petitioner continued as follows: “I don’t believe the District Attorney stands in any stead or difference from any other witness, and if I want to call him as a witness I have a right to call him as a witness. Objections can be interposed question by question.
*242 “The Court: I don’t believe so, in view of his status in the case. You have an obligation—
“Mr. Buckley: The Court should let me finish my position so that the record is clear.
“The Court: I thought you had finished. I didn’t know you went on forever.
“Mr. Buckley: The Court’s persistent interruptions—
“The Court: Don’t characterize my conduct as persistent interruptions or I’ll cite you for contempt. Get on with your argument.
“Mr. Buckley: I lost my train of thought because of the Court’s interruption.”
Petitioner then reiterated his position that he was not required to make an offer of proof and the prosecutor renewed his objection. The following then occurred.
“Mr. Brian: And I renew my objection. There’s been no showing whatever that I have anything to offer in the case, and I’ve learned by sad experience not to talk to Mr. Buckley in person, and I refuse to do it unless there’s a witness present. [H] I have nothing to offer this case. I’m the prosecutor, and I refuse to take the stand. It’s one of his cheap tricks.
“The Court: I’m not interested in your characterization.
“Mr. Brian: I withdraw my characterization.
“Mr. Buckley: Would the Court ask the District Attorney to apologize.
“The Court: Did you apologize for calling him stupid?
“Mr. Buckley: Did I call him stupid?
“The Court: Yes, you did.”
After a further exchange, the judge sustained the prosecutor’s objection to being called as a defense witness. Petitioner continued to argue to the court. “Mr. Buckley: I don’t call witnesses that won’t offer relevant testimony, and this witness will offer relevant and material testimony.
“The Court: You’ll have to first tell me what that is.
“Mr. Buckley: I think the Court and the prosecution bear a heavy burden.
*243 “The Court; Stop telling me about my burden. Either comply with the order or sit down.
“Mr. Buckley: What is the order?
“The Court: The order is unless you tell me the relevant information I’m not going to permit you to call him.
“Mr. Buckley: Is that going to be so with every witness?
“The Court: No, that only applies to the District Attorney.”
A lengthy exchange between petitioner and the court then ensued, during which petitioner argued that he was entitled to interrogate the prosecutor about oral statements made to him by defendants, since such statements would have been discoverable anyhow had they been reduced to writing. When asked by the court for authority supporting such a position, petitioner continued: “Mr. Buckley: I call upon the Court’s experience as a judge that everything isn’t written down in law books, that new questions arise every day that aren’t in the cases.
“The Court: You don’t have authority for it, is that it? It’s denied.
“Mr. Buckley: The District Attorney—
“The Court: I don’t want to hear the argument. It’s denied.
“Mr. Buckley: The District Attorney has none to the contrary. It’s consistent with all other—
“The Court: I’ve heard enough argument on it.
“Mr. Buckley: I’ll cite to the Court In Re Ferguson, 5 Cal.3d 525, which talks about the obligation of the District Attorney to turn over to the defense, even without request, all information of a substantial and material nature; says nothing about whether it is written or not. In fact, the Court says there is no need for the defense to make a written notice that will just clog the Court’s file with unnecessary paperwork. H] That’s my case. I rely on that. H] I’ll move the Court for a mistrial.
“The Court: Denied.
“Mr. Buckley: This Court obviously doesn’t want to apply the law.
“The Court: Stop insulting me and sit down. Hi] Don’t tell me I don’t want to apply the law. It’s grossly insulting and this time I’m going to cite you for contempt. For grossly contemptuous behavior in impugning to this Court a willful desire not to apply the law. It is highly insulting, highly un*244 true, and you’re punished with five days in the Orange County jail and a fine of five hundred dollars, the sentence to take effect upon the conclusion of this trial. It will be stayed until the verdict is rendered in this case.”6 (Italics added.)
At the start of the proceedings on the following morning, petitioner in open court and outside the presence of the jury apologized to the court for being late. In the ensuing colloquy between petitioner and the court, during which petitioner remarked that “this Court has questions about my credibility,” petitioner apologized to the court for “the comment I made yesterday.”
During the afternoon session that day, petitioner in open court and out of the presence of the jury addressed the judge on the subject of his prior apology and the court’s subsequent observation that the apology “only magnified the nature of the contempt.” His inquiry as to why the judge had rejected the apology was met by the judge’s response that he “never accepted it or rejected it” but had considered that the apology “only magnified the insult, because the accusation was a charge on the integrity of this court. The accusation was, I knew the law, and didn’t obey it. So merely stating I knew the law, merely emphasized the fact that I had no integrity.”
I
Preliminarily we make some observations as to the order under review. Fairly read, it indicates that petitioner was found to be in contempt only for a single act of misconduct—his statement in open court that “This Court obviously doesn’t want to apply the law.” (See fn. 10, ante, and text accompanying fn. 6.)
These preliminary matters out of the way, we turn to petitioner’s first contention. Essentially his point is this: That the order of contempt rests
In 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.” (The Times-Mirror Co. v. Superior Court (1940) 15 Cal.2d 99, 115 [98 P.2d 1029], revd. other grounds (1941) 314 U.S. 252 [86 L.Ed. 192, 62 S.Ct. 190, 159 A.L.R. 1346]; Bridges v. Superior Court (1939) 14 Cal.2d 464, 484 [94 P.2d 983], revd. other grounds (1941) 314 U.S. 252 [86 L.Ed. 192, 62 S.Ct. 190, 159 A.L.R. 1346].) More recently we said that “the responsibility of the reviewing court is merely to ascretain 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 Ciraolo (1969) 70 Cal.2d 389, 394 [74 Cal.Rptr. 865, 450 P.2d 241], citing Arthur v. Superior Court (1965) 62 Cal.2d 404, 409-410 [42 Cal.Rptr. 441, 398 P.2d 777], and Bridges v. Superior Court, supra, 14 Cal.2d at p. 485.)
The requirements of the order adjudicating contempt have been given expression in numerous opinions. In Arthur v. Superior Court, supra, 62 Cal.2d at page 407, we observed: “Section 1211 of the Code of Civil Procedure establishes the procedure that is to be followed in adjudging persons in contempt of court. Contempt committed in the immediate view and presence of the court, known as direct contempt, may be treated summarily. All that is required is that an order be made reciting the facts, adjudging the person guilty and prescribing the punishment.” We have emphasized, however, that such an order is valid only if it recites facts with sufficient particularity to demonstrate on its face that petitioner’s conduct-constituted a legal contempt, (Chula v. Superior Court, supra, 57 Cal.2d at p. 203; Raiden v. Superior Court (1949) 34 Cal.2d 83, 86 [206 P.2d 1081]; Gallagher v. Municipal Court (1948) 31 Cal.2d 784, 795 [192 P.2d 905].)
It is well established that a court has inherent power to punish for contempt of court (In re McKinney (1968) 70 Cal.2d 8, 10-11 [73 Cal. Rptr. 580, 447 P.2d 972] and cases there cited). As this court declared many years ago in a case repeatedly cited with approval, this inherent power “is a necessary incident to the execution of the powers conferred
Thus it is the settled law of this state that an attorney commits a direct contempt when he impugns the integrity of the court by statements made in open court either , orally or in writing. (In re Ciraolo, supra, 70 Cal.2d 389, 394-395 (false accusation in affidavit); Hume v. Superior Court (1941) 17 Cal.2d 506, 513-514 [110 P.2d 669] (false charge of collusion of judge with Attorney General); Blodgett v. Superior Court (1930) 210 Cal. 1,16 [290 P. 293, 72 A.L.R. 482] (false charge of corruption in legal memorandum); Matter of Shay (1911) 160 Cal. 399, 407-408 [117 P. 442] (letter imputing improper conduct to Supreme Court justices); Lamberson v. Superior Court (1907) 151 Cal. 458, 462-464 [91 P. 100] (affidavit to disqualify judge charging corrupt and improper motives); In re Grossman (1972) 24 Cal.App.3d 624, 634-640 [101 Cal.Rptr. 176] (false accusations against judge); Gillen v. Municipal Court (1940) 37 Cal.App.2d 428, 429, 431 [99 P.2d 555] (oral statement that opposing counsel won before he started); Hallinan v. Superior Court (1938) 27 Cal.App.2d 433, 438-439 [81 P.2d 254] (affidavit charging dishonesty of presiding judge); In re Friday (1934) 138 Cal.App. 660, 663 [32 P.2d 1117] (objections to court’s rulings falsely charging trial judge with improper conduct); Ex parte Ewell (1925) 71 Cal.App. 744, 747-748 [236 P. 205] (letter attacking judge); Matter of Application of Lapique (1915) 26 Cal.App. 258 [146 P. 690] (affidavit in support of motion for change of venue imputing lack of integrity in judge). See 4 Witkin, Cal. Procedure (2d ed. 1971), pp. 2973-2974.)
Nevertheless we have warned that the judge’s ultimate weapon of the summary contempt power “must be exercised with great caution, lest it stifle the freedom of thought and speech so necessary to a fair trial under our adversary system. That system is built upon the belief that truth will best be served if defense counsel is given the maximum possible leeway to urge in a respectful but nonetheless determined manner, the questions, objections, or argument he deems necessary to the defendant’s case: ‘He has a right to press a legitimate argument and to protest an erroneous ruling.’ [Citation.] Indeed, so essential is this ‘fundamental interest of the public in maintaining an independent bar’ . . . that ‘a mere mistaken act by counsel cannot render him in contempt of court. Even if a legal proposition is untenable, counsel may properly urge it in good faith; he may do so even though he may not expect to be successful, provided of course, that he does not resort to deceit or to wilful obstruction of the orderly processes.’ ” (Smith v. Superior Court (1968) 68 Cal.2d 547, 560 [68 Cal.Rptr. 1, 440 P.2d 65], quoting Gallagher v. Municipal Court, supra, 31 Cal.2d 784, 788, 795, 796.) When, however, aggressive advocacy gives way to insolence and disrespect towards the court and particularly when it degenerates into “impertinent, scandalous, insulting or contemptuous language reflecting on the integrity of the court” (Hume v. Superior Court, supra, 17 Cal.2d at p. 513) it is the trial judge’s “bounden duty to protect the integrity of his
Applying the foregoing authorities to the matter before us, we think it is manifest that petitioner’s statement constituted an attack on the integrity of the court. The offending language—“[t]his Court obviously doesn’t want to apply the law”—fairly read, means, as indeed the trial judge took it to mean, that the judge knew the law but deliberately chose to ignore it. In essence the statement does not constitute a mere accusation of bias, that is, a mere “condition of mind” (Estate of Friedman (1918) 178 Cal. 27, 39 [172 P. 140]) or merely a “ ‘leaning of the mind; propensity or prepossession toward an object or view, not leaving the mind indifferent’ ” (Evans v. Superior Court (1930) 107 Cal.App. 372, 380 [290 P. 662] quoting from Webster’s New Internat. Dict.)
In our view the statement goes beyond one reflecting a mere mental outlook or predilection and makes a charge of deliberate judicial dishonesty. We are of the opinion that the record does not support such an accusation against the judge and that the statement was insolent, offensive, insulting, and impunged the integrity of the court. We conclude that the statement was contemptuous on its face.
Petitioner contends, however, that reversal of the order before us is compelled by the recent decision of the United States Supreme Court in In re Little (1972) 404 U.S. 553 [30 L.Ed.2d 708, 92 S.Ct. 659]. There the contemner-petitioner, a layman, attempted to act as his own attorney in a
In what appears to be a narrow holding, the United States Supreme Court in a per curiam opinion reversed the judgment. “We hold that in the context of this case petitioner’s statements in summation did not constitute criminal contempt. The court’s denial of the continuance forced petitioner to argue his own cause. He was therefore clearly entitled to as much latitude in conducting his defense as we have held is enjoyed by counsel vigorously espousing a client’s cause. In re McConnell (1962) 370 U.S. 230. There is no indication, and the State does not argue, that petitioner’s statements were uttered in a boisterous tone or in any wise actually disrupted the court proceeding. Therefore, ‘The vehemence of the language used is not alone the measure of the power to punish for contempt. The fires which it kindles must constitute an imminent, not merely a likely, threat to the administration of justice. The danger must not be remote or even probable; it must immediately imperil .... [T]he law of contempt is not made for the protection of judges who may be sensitive to the winds of public opinion. Judges are supposed to be men of fortitude, able to thrive in a hardy climate.’ Craig v. Harney, 331 U.S. 367, 376 (1947). ‘Trial courts . . . must be on guard against confusing offenses to their sensibilities with obstruction to the administration of justice.’ (Brown v. United States, 356 U.S. 148, 153 (1958).” (Id. at p. 555 [30 L.Ed.2d at pp. 710-711]; italics added.)
Our reading of Little is further complicated by our inability to detect the specific constitutional infirmity dictating the high court’s result. The court merely concluded that reversal of the conviction was required by its earlier holding in Holt v. Virginia (1965) 381 U.S. 131 [14 L.Ed.2d 290, 85 S.Ct. 1375].
We read Holt as merely affirming, upon constitutional grounds of due process, the settled rule that an attorney may not be summarily adjudged in contempt for aggressive but respectful advocacy. This rule and its limitations are eloquently set forth in Sacher v. United States (1952) 343 U.S. 1 [96 L.Ed. 717, 72 S.Ct. 451], in upholding the summary conviction of an attorney for direct contempt committed while representing the defendant in a criminal case.
Unlike the attorneys’ affidavit in Holt, petitioner Buckley’s remark was not “plain English, in no way offensive in [itself], and wholly appropriate to charge bias . . . .” (Holt v. Virginia, supra, 381 U.S. at p. 137 [14 L.Ed.2d at p. 294].) Rather, the remark “This court obviously doesn’t
We hold here that when petitioner’s argument turned from advocacy to insult, the trial court was acting properly in holding him in contempt. We are of the opinion that Little does not derogate from the settled California rule set forth by us, supra (see text accompanying fn. 14, ante) that an attorney commits a direct contempt when he impugns the integrity of the court by statements in open court. Indeed, in our view, Little not only rests on a different principle but is also distinguishable on its facts. We have endeavored to evaluate petitioner’s language in the perspective of the trial, mindful of the fact that he is an advocate pressing his claim, according him “[f]ull enjoyment of that right, with due allowance for the heat of controversy” (Sacher v. United States, supra, 343 U.S. at p. 9 [96 L.Ed. at p. 723]), and sensitive to the hazard that in vindicating the dignity and authority of the court, the judge’s contempt power must not become “an instrument of tyranny.” (Fisher v. Pace, supra, 336 U.S. at p. 163 [93 L.Ed. at p. 574]; Douglas, dissenting.) In the light of all these circumstances, we cannot say that petitioner’s conduct was as a matter of law not contemptuous.
II
We now turn to petitioner’s argument that the trial judge was required, as a matter of due process, to refer the matter of adjudication of the alleged contempt to another judge. Petitioner relies upon Mayberry v. Pennsylvania (1971) 400 U.S. 455 [27 L.Ed.2d 532, 91 S.Ct. 499], for the proposition that a defendant in criminal contempt proceedings should be given a public trial before a judge other than the one reviled by the contemner.
In Mayberry, the Supreme Court overturned adjudications of contempt made in a state proceeding. Three defendants, none of them a lawyer, represented themselves in a criminal trial before a jury. At the end of the trial, the judge held them in contempt for numerous remarks made in court and directed at the judge. The Supreme Court vacated the judgment, and remanded the case to be considered by a judge other than the one at whom the remarks were directed.
In the case at bench, unlike Mayberry, the trial court did not wait to adjudge petitioner in contempt, but immediately cited him and soon thereafter signed the order of commitment. More importantly, from our review of the instant record, we cannot say that the judge was so personally embroiled with petitioner that he was unfit to sit in judgment on the contempt charge. The attack here did not consist of “fighting words” which the court found in Mayberry carried such a potential for bias as to require disqualification. Petitioner’s conduct, even though disrespectful, did not rise to the level of personal vilification which by itself would give evidence of the trial court’s probable personal embroilment.
Nor do statements made by the judge indicate that he was unfit to sit in judgment. (Contrast Offutt v. United States (1954) 348 U.S. 11, 16-17 [99 L.Ed. 11, 17-18, 75 S.Ct. 11].) For example, the judge’s remark, cited by petitioner, that “I didn’t know you went on forever,” made after an inter
More difficult, however, is the disposition of petitioner’s assertion that the judge demonstrated his personal involvement by totally misconstruing petitioner’s attempt to apologize. As previously noted, the day after petitioner was cited for contempt, he apologized to the judge for the remarks in question. (See. fn. 7, ante.) The judge, upon reflection, construed this apology as a further affront to his integrity, since it implied that he knew the law and wilfully disobeyed it. (See fn. 8, ante.)
We have held that in instances of direct contempt an apology to the judge should be given serious consideration. (People v. Turner (1850) 1 Cal. 152, 153.)
While the trial judge appears to have seriously considered petitioner’s apology, it is arguable that he misinterpreted it.
The record in this case fails to disclose any such vitriolic attack as that which the court directed against the attorney in Offutt. Nor is there any evidence that the judge abrogated his duty to impose his moral authority upon the proceedings. To the contrary, the record discloses considerable patience and control on the part of a judge faced with repeated impertinences of counsel. We conclude from the record before us that the trial judge was not required, as a matter of due process, to refer the matter of adjudication of the alleged contempt to another judge. (Cf. Ungar v. Sarafite (1964) 376 U.S. 575, 588 [11 L.Ed.2d 921, 930, 84 S.Ct. 841].)
III
Finally, petitioner contends that he has been denied the equal protection of the laws because California statutes do not provide for an appeal from, or for a stay of, an order adjudicating a person in contempt of court. The point of his argument is this: He assumes that “[t]he conviction ... at issue ... is a misdemeanor” (citing Pen. Code, § 166, subd. 1), but asserts that the court below “necessarily proceeded under the provisions of C.C.P. § 1209.” Asserting that the right of appeal, if provided by the state, “must be fairly and equally available to all,” petitioner argues that equal protection is denied him, since “[e]very convicted misdemeanant, except one convicted of contempt” obtains review by appeal. The contention is devoid of merit.
Petitioner was not convicted of violating Penal Code section 166 or any other section of the Penal Code. He was adjudged in direct contempt of court and his summary adjudication of contempt was proper under Code
The order to show cause is discharged and the petition for the writ is denied.
Wright, C. J., McComb, J., Burke, J., and Clark, J., concurred.
Petitioner sought a writ of habeas corpus or in the alternative a writ of certiorari. Either remedy is properly invoked. (John Breuner Co. v. Bryant (1951) 36 Cal.2d 877, 878 [229 P.2d 356]; In re Circosta (1963) 219 Cal.App.2d 777, 785 [33 Cal.Rptr. 514].) We chose to treat the petition as one praying for a writ of habeas corpus and issued an order to show cause. Respondents superior court and Sheriff of Orange County have filed separate returns.
The order also provided that, in the event of failure to pay the fine, petitioner should serve, in addition to the five days, one day for each $25 of the fine remaining unpaid.
“Mr. Buckley: Call Mr. Brian.
“Mr. Brian: Who did he say?
“Mr. Buckley: Mr. Patrick Brian.
“Mr. Brian: Your Honor, before we get into any of Mr. Buckley’s nonsense, may we have a hearing on that matter at the bench?
“The Court: Well, the jury goes back into that nice lovely room. . . .”
The order adjudging petitioner in contempt attaches and incorporates as a part thereof a transcript of a portion of the oral proceedings described as the “colloquy” leading up to the alleged contempt.
“Mr. Brian: Your Honor, just for the record—
“The Court: Give him a chance. He hasn’t explained why he wants to call you.
“Mr. Brian: Before he does that, would the Court ask counsel to make an offer of proof regarding the evidence that he purports to elicit from me.
“The Court: I expect to get that.
“Mr. Brian: And the relevancy of it, and any type of justification for that conduct.
“Mr. Buckley: I think the record should show that in the courtroom is Mr. Parnell, a Deputy District Attorney. The District Attorney is going to assert, in opposition to me calling him as a witness, that people would be without counsel.
“Mr. Brian: I’m making no such argument.
“Mr. Buckley: Age-old argument that will resolve itself. Mr. Parnell could substitute in.
“The Court: I’m waiting to hear what you propose to prove by calling Mr. Pat Brian, Deputy District Attorney of the County of Orange.
“Mr. Buckley: Well, if the Court would give me a recess I’d have a personal conversation with Mr. Brian, an interview, and if he would answer my questions then I would be able to really know whether he can testify to material things. I think he can.
“The Court: Such as?
“Mr. Buckley: Well, the Court got involved in an order directing the defense to make available to the prosecution the names and addresses of alibi witnesses. The cases seem to indicate that’s about as much from the defense, in terms of discovery, as the Court can order.”
The judge then ordered a 10-minute recess. There is no indication in the record nor in the contempt order that the recess was necessary to maintain order or was in any way a result of petitioner’s remark.
“Mr. Buckley: Well, with respect to the comment I made yesterday, I apologize to the Court. That was a comment made perhaps in the heat of anger or combat, and I do apologize, because I do respect this Court and the Court’s legal knowledge, and I disagree with the Court, but 1 don’t disrespect it.
“The Court: I’ll see whether that’s made in good faith by the manner in which you conduct yourself the remainder of this trial.
“Mr. Buckley: I’ll do my best to support it.”
“Of course, the record will also show that I cited Mr. Buckley for contempt yesterday and his purported apology this morning. He accused me of willfully disobeying the law in order to help the prosecution to conduct an unfair trial in behalf of his client. I’d much rather be accused of stupidity than of malice.
“Today Mr. Buckley was kind enough to say he respected my knowledge of the law, which only made the charge of willfully disobeying it all the more serious. Rather than expunging the contempt, it poured salt on the wound, because with all my purported knowledge of the law, there would be even less excuse in Mr. Buckley’s eyes for my disobedience of it.”
It is interesting to note that at that point petitioner appears to have pursued a course of interrogating the court in respect to his above position. “Mr. Buckley: That was the Court’s position . . . ?
“The Court: That’s as I understand it.
“The Court: Well, I had a chance to think about the language.
“Mr. Buckley: Nothing occurred on the record that indicated the apology was not made in good faith?
“The Court: I’m not sure, but I don’t think so at the moment. Are you testing me subjectively? I can’t think of anything at the moment.
“Mr. Buckley: I was trying to—see, today I was quite startled with the statement the Court made, because I had made the apology in good faith and I thought the Court was at least considering—
“The Court: In my opinion, the so-called apology does not exonerate a lawyer who behaves contemptuously in the presence of the Court. I don’t think it’s an excuse for contemptuous conduct. . . .”
“It is hereby found, ordered and adjudged that:
“(1) On September 19, 1972, in the immediate presence and view of the Court, during proceedings in the above-entitled action, Lawrence Buckley, counsel for defendant, stated in open court that the Trial Judge ‘obviously does not want to apply the law,’ in a colloquy the full portion of which is attached hereto and made a part hereof.
“(2) Such statement in effect accused the Trial Judge of lack of integrity, tended to interrupt the due course of the trial then in progress, and constituted contemptuous behavior.
“(3) For said contempt, said Lawrence Buckley is hereby committed to the custody of the Sheriff of Orange County for Five Days and is hereby fined the Sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), plus penalty assessment.
“(4) After said contempt, said Lawrence Buckley said he ‘apologized’ and respected the Court’s knowledge of the law. Such purported ‘apology’ served only to emphasize the previous attack on the integrity of the Court, which in effect, charged the Court with knowing the law and deliberately refusing to obey it. The transcripts regarding said apology are also attached hereto and made a part hereof. HSH
“(5) A stay of only those provisions of this order committing the said Lawrence Buckley to the custody of the Sheriff of Orange County is granted until verdict is rendered or the jury discharged in the above-entitled proceeding.
“(6) A further stay of only those provisions committing said Lawrence Buckley to the custody of the Sheriff of Orange County shall be granted upon the institution by said Lawrence Buckley of appropriate proceedings to review the within adjudication of contempt in a higher court and upon posting of bail in the sum of One Thousand ($1,000.00) Dollars.” (Italicized portion handwritten and initialed by judge.)
Although the order to show cause named only the Sheriff of Orange County, both the superior court (represented by the county counsel) and the sheriff (represented by the district attorney) have filed “answers” and written returns. Both parties will be referred to herein as respondent.
The order is sufficiently specific to preclude any conjecture that it might be based on other acts of petitioner. The first sentence of the order quotes the remark and attaches a copy of the transcript to show the context in which it was made. The next sentence charges that “Such statement in effect accused the Trial Judge of lack of integrity, tended to interrupt the due course of the trial then in progress, and constituted contemptuous behavior.” (Italics added.)
For this reason, facts concerning other behavior by petitioner are relevant only to the extent that they shed light on the intent with which the remark was made or the effect which the remark had on the proceedings. Other conduct may not serve as independent grounds for contempt, since to do so would violate the requirement that the facts show, without the aid of speculation, that a contempt occurred. (Chula v. Superior Court (1962) 57 Cal.2d 199, 203 [18 Cal.Rptr. 507, 368 P.2d 107, 97 A.L.R.2d 421].)
Section 1209 provides in pertinent part: “The following acts or omissions in respect to a court of justice, or proceedings therein, are contempts of the authority of the court: [1¡] 1. Disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent behavior toward the judge while holding the court, tending to interrupt the due course of a trial or other judicial proceeding.”
Hereafter, unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Code of Civil Procedure.
Section 1209 establishes a list of acts or omissions which may constitute contempt of court, including “1. Disorderly, contemptuous or insolent behavior toward the judge while holding the court, tending to interrupt the due course of a trial or other judicial proceeding.” (Italics added.) The list is not exclusive, however, for the power of a court to punish by contempt an act which impugns its integrity exists independent of statute. (Cf. In re Shortridge, supra, 99 Cal. at p. 532.) “The legislative department may regulate the procedure and enlarge the power, but it cannot without trenching upon the constitutional powers of the court and destroying the autonomy of that system of checks and balances, which is one of the chief features of our triple-department form of government, fetter the power itself.” (Id.) (See also In re San Francisco Chronicle (1934) 1 Cal.2d 630, 634-635 [36 P.2d 369].)
We note that the contempt order here states that petitioner’s remark “accused the Trial Judge of lack of integrity.” Such conduct, if supported by the record, may be punished by contempt under the general rule set forth in the text, supra. We need not consider whether the remark also tended to interrupt the due course of the trial, as the order alleges, so as to justify independent grounds for contempt under section 1209, subdivision 1.
Distinguishable from these cases are decisions holding that an attorney is not guilty of contempt of court when in good faith he states facts which he believes to be true and which support allegations of bias made in connection with a motion to disqualify a judge. (Woolley v. Superior Court (1937) 19 Cal.App.2d 611, 627-628 [66 P.2d 680]; In re Cunha (1932) 123 Cal.App. 625, 635 [11 P.2d 902, 18 P.2d 979].) Also distinguishable from the cases cited above are those instances of contemptuous behavior where the judge may be subject “to ridicule and insult by intonations and gestures accompanying words wholly innocuous. . . .” (Gallagher v. Municipal Court, supra, 31 Cal.2d at p. 796.) We have held that in such cases, “something more is required to support the order than the mere recital therein that the tone of voice used was contemptuous.” (In re Hallinan (1969) 71 Cal.2d 1179, 1181-1182 [81 Cal.Rptr. 1, 459 P.2d 255].) The record must show that the judge first warned the attorney that his tone of voice and facial expression are offensive. (Id. at p. 1185; Gallagher v. Municipal Court, supra, at p. 797.)
The remark for which petitioner was cited appears to have been the climax to several prior impertinent remarks directed at the judge by petitioner. (See .text between fns. 5 and 6, ante.) Thus, both on its face and within the context in which it was uttered, it appears to be contemptuous.
Pertinent here is the following from Gillen v. Municipal Court, supra, 37 Cal. App.2d 428, 431: “However, it is clear said municipal court had jurisdiction of the proceedings pending before it. It also had jurisdiction to determine what was or was not contemptuous language. Unless we can say, as a matter of law, that said language was susceptible of that construction only, for which the petitioner now contends, we may not say the trial court exceeded its jurisdiction. The language used by the petitioner is to be considered in connection with all of the surrounding circumstances. Having read the record with due care we are unable to say, as a matter of law, that the trial court did not properly construe the language used by petitioner.”
The appellate court also held that the trial court’s conclusion amounted to a finding that the words tended to interrupt the court’s proceedings and to impair respect due its authority.
As noted in Little (id. at p. 555, fn. [30 L.Ed.2d at p. 710]), a North Carolina statute made punishable for contempt “ ‘[disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent behavior committed during the sitting of any court of justice, in immediate view and presence of the court, and directly tending to interrupt its proceedings, or to impair the respect due to its authority.’ ”
“The reversal of this conviction is necessarily required under our holding in Holt v. Virginia, 381 U.S. 131 (1965). There attorneys filed motions that the trial judge recuse himself and for a change of venue, alleging that the judge was biased. The motion for change of venue alleged that the judge intimidated and harassed the attorney’s client. The court adjudged the attorneys in contempt for filing these motions. We reversed for reasons also applicable here: [1i] ‘It is not charged that petitioners here disobeyed any valid court order, talked loudly, acted boisterously, or attempted to prevent the judge or any other officer of the court from carrying on his court duties. Their convictions rest on nothing whatever except allegations made in motions for change of venue and disqualification of Judge Holladay because of alleged bias on his part.’ Id., at 136.” (In re Little, supra, 404 U.S. at p. 556 [30 L.Ed.2d at p. 711].)
“And it is settled that due process and the Sixth Amendment guarantee a defendant ' charged with contempt such as this ‘an opportunity to be heard in his defense—a right to his day in court— . . . and to be represented by counsel.’ [Citations.] The right to be heard must necessarily embody a right to file motions and pleadings essential to present claims and raise relevant issues. [Citation.] And since ‘A fair trial in a fair tribunal is a basic requirement of due process,’ [citation], it necessarily follows that motions for change of venue to escape a biased tribunal raise constitutional issues both relevant and essential. [Citations.] Consequently, neither Dawley nor his counsel could consistently with due process be convicted for
The court expressly declined to pass on the question whether summary convictions of the attorneys were invalid because the alleged misconduct did not disturb the court’s business or threaten demoralization of its authority. (Holt v. Virginia, supra, 381 U.S. at pp. 135-136, fn. 2 [14 L.Ed.2d at p. 293].)
“Our criminal processes are adversary in nature and rely upon the self-interest of the litigants and counsel for full and adequate development of their respective cases. The nature of the proceedings presupposes, or at least stimulates, zeal in the opposing lawyers. But their strife can pervert as well as aid the judicial process unless it is supervised and controlled by a neutral judge representing the overriding social interest in impartial justice and with power to curb both adversaries. The rights and immunities of accused persons would be exposed to serious and obvious abuse if the trial bench did not possess and frequently exert power to curb prejudicial and excessive zeal of prosecutors. The interests of society in the preservation of courtroom control by the judges are no more to be frustrated through unchecked improprieties by defenders.
“Of course, it is the right of counsel for every litigant to press his claim, even if it appears farfetched and untenable, to obtain the court’s considered ruling. Full enjoyment of that right, with due allowance for the heat of controversy, will be protected by appellate courts when infringed by trial courts. But if the ruling is adverse, it is not counsel’s right to resist it or to insult the judge—his right is only respectfully to preserve his point for appeal. During a trial, lawyers must speak, each in his own time and within his allowed time, and with relevance and moderation.” {Sacher v. United States, supra, 343 U.S. at pp. 8-9 [96 L.Ed. at p. 723]; italics added.)
See also Illinois v. Allen (1970) 397 U.S. 337, 343 [25 L.Ed.2d 353, 358-359, 90 S.Ct. 1057], in which the Supreme Court set the constitutional guidelines by which a criminal defendant may be silenced for disruptive conduct: “It is essential to the proper administration of criminal justice that dignity, order, and decorum be the hallmarks of all court proceedings in our country. The flagrant disregard in the courtroom of elementary standards of proper conduct should not and cannot be tolerated. We believe trial judges confronted with disruptive, contumacious, stub
Further cause for confusion arises from references in Little which might be read as implying that, to be punishable for direct contempt, conduct must result in “ ‘an imminent, not merely a likely, threat to the administration of justice.’ ” {In re Little, supra, 404 U.S. at p. 555 [30 L.Ed.2d at p. 711], quoting Craig v. Harney (1947) 331 U.S. 367, 376 [91 L.Ed. 1546, 1552, 67 S.Ct. 1249]) or an “obstruction to the administration of justice.” {Id., quoting Brown v. United States (1958) 356 U.S. 148, 153 [2 L.Ed.2d 589, 595, 78 S.Ct. 622, 72 A.L.R.2d 818].) Petitioner seizes upon this language in arguing that, to be punishable for contempt, conduct must somehow physically disrupt the proceedings.
We are unconvinced that the United States Supreme Court, in stating the above-quoted dicta, intended to limit the contempt power of state courts to apply only to those cases in which there has been a physical obstruction to the administration of justice. An examination of Craig and Brown supports this conclusion. In Craig, the Supreme Court reversed an adjudication of constructive contempt against several newspapermen for articles attacking a judicial ruling. The decision is based upon the traditionally zealous protection of freedom of the press under the First Amendment. Unlike a newspaper, a courtroom is not a proper forum for free-wheeling exchange of ideas. An attorney’s freedom of speech in this setting must be tempered to insure that courts of law accomplish that for which they were created—dispensing justice in a reasonable, efficient and fair manner. In short, we fail to see how the rule of Craig applies to a case involving direct contempt by an attorney.
Nor does the test employed in Brown apply to this case. Brown dealt with the power of a federal court to punish for direct contempt. The federal contempt power is defined by a federal statute passed in 1831 which has long been held to limit the power of federal courts to summarily punish for contemptuous conduct. This statute, 18 United States Code, section 401, states in relevant part: “A court of the United States shall have power to punish by fine or imprisonment, at its discretion, such contempt of its authority, and none other, as—[11] (1) Misbehavior of any person in its presence or so near thereto as to obstruct the administration of justice.” (Italics added.)
Brown merely restates the federal statutory rule, which “does not, however, reflect the constitutional limits of the states’ contempt powers.” (Weiss v. Burr (9th Cir. 1973) 484 F.2d 973, 982, fn. 13.)
“Where, however, he does not act the instant the contempt is committed, but waits until the end of the trial, on balance, it is generally wise where the marks of the unseemly conduct have left personal stings to ask a fellow judge to take his place.” (Mayberry v. Pennsylvania, supra, 400 U.S. at pp. 463-464 [27 L.Ed.2d at p. 539].)
“It is, of course, not every attack on a judge that disqualifies him from sitting. In Ungar v. Sarafite, 376 U.S. 575, we ruled that a lawyer’s challenge, though ‘disruptive, recalcitrant and disagreeable commentary,’ was still not ‘an insulting attack upon the integrity of the judge carrying such potential for bias as to require disqualification.’ Id., at 584. Many of the words leveled at the judge in the instant case were highly personal aspersions, even ‘fighting words’—‘dirty sonofabitch,’ ‘dirty tyrannical old dog.’ ‘stumbling dog,’ and ‘fool.’ He was charged with running a Spanish Inquisition and told to ‘Go to hell’ and ‘Keep your mouth shut.’ Insults of that kind are apt to strike ‘at the most vulnerable and human qualities of a judge’s temperament.’ Bloom v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 194, 202.” (Id. at pp. 465-466 [27 L.Ed.2d at p. 540].)
See Weiss v. Burr, supra, 484 F.2d at page 982 (insulting remarks concerning the court’s ruling; judge held not personally embroiled); In re Grossman, supra, 24 Cal.App.3d at pp. 632-633 (insulting remarks; judge held not personally embroiled). But see United States V. Meyer (1972) 462 F.2d 827 [149 App.D.C. 212] (accusation by attorney that the judge had made up his mind on the case before entering the courtroom held “sufficiently personal to invoke the Mayberry doctrine,” (Id. at p. 844.)).
“A judge should bear in mind that he is engaged, not so much in vindicating his own character, as in promoting the respect due to the administration of the laws; and this consideration should induce him to receive as satisfactory any reasonable apology for an offender’s conduct.” See also Lyons v. Superior Court (1955) 43 Cal.2d 755, 763 [278 P.2d 681]: “Likewise, even where the finding of contempt appears essential to the proper conduct of the court’s business no class of offense occurs to us in which the court should more readily search out and give effect to mitigating circumstances than in cases of direct contempts.”
Our intuition must be tempered by the realization that we are forced to depend upon a record which fails to convey the full circumstances surrounding the apology. “A contempt holding depends in a very special way on the setting, and such elusive factors as the tone of voice, the facial expressions, and the physical gestures of the contemner; these cannot be dealt with except on full ventilation of the facts. Those present often have a totally different impression of the events from what would appear even in a faithful transcript of the record.” (In re Little, supra, 404 U.S. at p. 556 [30 L.Ed.2d at p. 711]; Burger, C. J., concurring.)
Section 1211 states in relevant part: “When a contempt is committed in the immediate view and presence of the court, or of the judge at chambers, it may be punished summarily; for which an order must be made, reciting the facts as occurring in such immediate view and presence, adjudging that the person proceeded against is thereby guilty of a contempt, and that he be punished as therein prescribed.”