People ex rel. Loevin v. Griffing

The relators were commissioners, members of the board of health of the city of New Rochelle. They were appointed by the mayor for fixed terms and served without compensation. Chapter 559, art. 26, Laws of 1910. The power of removal from the offices held by them is controlled by section 33 of the law cited. It reads:

“Except as otherwise provided in this act for the board of education, the mayor may remove any appointive officer in the following manner: The mayor

shall serve written charges upon the officer and shall give him a hearing at which all the testimony in the matter shall be taken under oath and reduced to writing. If in the judgment of the mayor such testimony is sufficient to warrant the removal of the officer, the mayor may remove the officer and shall file all the evidence together with, his written detailed reasons for the removal, signed by him, in the office of the city clerk.”

The relators were removed by his honor, the mayor, purporting to act in obedience to the law. They applied for a writ of certiorari, which was issued. A return was made, and the proceeding is here to be heard.

[1] The primary question presented for determination is whether this is a case where the writ may issue. It is conceded that the right to the writ is not expressly conferred, and that the issuance thereof is not expressly authorized by a statute. The only other assumption upon which it can be issued is if it were issuable at common law; and it is also conceded that, if the right to issue it existed at common law, the power of the court to exercise that right is not expressly taken away by statute. Code of Civil Procedure, § 2120; Matter of Fitch, 147 N. Y. 334 , 41 N. E. 699 ; People ex rel. Mayor v. Nichols, 79 N. Y. 582 , 588.

[2] If, under the statute quoted, the act of removal is solely an executive act, it is unreviewable. People ex rel. Kennedy v. Brady, 166 N. Y. 44 , 47, 59 N. E. 701 . If it is judicial in its character, it “is subject to review by a writ of certiorari issued by the Supreme Court in the exercise of its superintending power over inferior tribunals and persons exercising judicial functions.” People ex rek The Mayor v. Nichols, supra. Where a statute makes no provision for a hearing, but confers the power of removal, subject to no limitation, except the requirement that the reasons therefor be stated in writing and filed, and an opportunity for explanation given, the act of removal is executive. People ex rek Kennedy v. Brady, supra. Similar determinations were made where the mayor of a city was authorized to remove a police commissioner “for any cause deemed sufficient to himself,” and where no hearing was provided by express language (People ex rek Gere v. Whitlock, 92 N. Y. 191 , 198), and in a case where the statute reads:

“If a charge be made by any person against any member of the police force that lie is incompetent or has been guilty of neglect of duty, misconduct in his office, or of conduct unbecoming a police officer, the charge must be put in writing in the form required by the rules of the police department and a copy thereof must be served upon the accused officer. It is then the duty of the commissioner to hear, try and determine the charge according to the rules of the police department. * * * -If the accused officer shall be found guilty of the charge made against him, the commissioner may * * ® dismiss him from the police force. * * * The decision of the commissioner shall be final and conclusive and not subject to review by any court.” People ex rel. Graveline v. Ham, 59 App. Div. 314 , 69 N. Y. Supp. 683 ; People ex rel. Miller v. Peck, 73 App. Div. 89 , 76 N. Y. Supp. 328 .

[3] .Where a statute requires, before removal, as it does in this case, written charges, a hearing thereof, sworn testimony reduced to writing, and judgment as to the sufficiency of the testimony to warrant removal, provision is made for a proceeding judicial in character.

“When by statute or by Implication of law the power of removal can only be exercised for cause or after a hearing the proceeding, although an exercise of an administrative power is judicial in its nature, and as a necessary consequence it is subject to review by certiorari.”

Such provision for a hearing imports written charges specifically alleging substantial cause for removal, reasonable notice of the hearing, permission to cross-examine witnesses called to sustain the charges, an opportunity to be heard and to produce witnesses in defense, and a just judgment. People ex rel. Mayor v. Nichols, supra; Matter of Reddy, 148 App. Div. 725 , 727, 132 N. Y. Supp. 937 .

The defendant asserts that, in the statutes heretofore considered in decisions pronouncing removal proceedings judicial in character, the words “for cause,’’ or some words of similar import, appeared, and that the omission of such words from this statute is significant, and fatal to the contention of the relator. We disagree with him. To agree with him would render meaningless the requirement that written charges be preferred and that a hearing be conducted with ■ prescribed judicial incidents. Some of the citations we have made show that when the Legislature intended to provide for a hearing simply to enlighten the judgment and satisfy the conscience of the removing power it clearly manifested its design, and when it wished to leave the power of removal untrammeled by a proceeding for judicial review it was not less happy in lucidity of expression.

The mayor has not unlimited discretion, without the guidance of evidence or law. He cannot act capriciously or arbitrarily. He must act in accordance with the established practice in such hearings. His judgment must be based upon sufficient evidence of the existence of some actual and substantial cause for removal from public office.. We conclude that the statute accorded the relators the right of a judicial hearing and that the determination of the mayor is subject to review.

[4] The remaining question is: Should the determination be confirmed? The relators were charged with conducting the hearing, of charges against the health officer of the city in an inefficient and improper manner, rendering the proceedings a farce and tending to bring ridicule and reproach upon the city government. They were specifically charged with permitting the counsel for the accused to travesty the proceedings by boisterous and flippant conduct, and to insult, during its course, one of the commissioners and the mayor himself, who was present as a witness, by addressing them opprobriously.

The relators were authorized to remove the health officer for cause. Chapter 559, § 385, Laws 1910. They were examining charges against him when the offense with which they were charged was committed. Assuming, without deciding, that a cause for removal from .office was stated in the written charges, the relators, nevertheless, were entitled to a reasonable opportunity to be heard and to a reasonable time within which to produce witnesses in their defense.

We think the accused were entitled to present their defense, and support it by witnesses whose attendance they should have had a reasonable time to procure by compulsory process, if necessary, so that the court, on review, could determine whether substantial cause for removal had been legitimately proved. See Matter of Reddy, supra.

The determination is annulled, and a new hearing directed, with $50 costs to the relators to abide the event. All concur.