People ex rel. Hart v. Goodrich

The plaintiffs seek in this action to determine the right of the four defendants to hold office as Justices of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial District of the state of New York. Each of the defendants demurred to the complaint on the ground that there had been a misjoinder of causes of action, in that the offices^held were separate and distinct, and on the further ground that there were insufficient facts stated to constitute a cause of action. On the ground that causes of action were improperly united the demurrers were sustained, and from final judgment thus entered this appeal is taken.

The complaint avers that prior to the general election of November 3, 1896, the four defendants were nominated as candidates for Justice of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial Department, to be voted for at said, election, and at that time there were only three judicial positions or vacancies lawfully to be filled at said election; that there was a fourth vacancy caused by the death on August 3, 1896, of Calvin E. Pratt, Justice of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial District, but, by section 4 of article 6 of the Constitution of the state of New York, it was and is provided that such vacancy shall be filled for a full term at the next general election happening not less than three months after the occurrence thereof, and such a general election did not occur on November 3, 1896; that upon the said election of 1896 the names of the four defendants were grouped together in a single vertical column, and there was nothing on the ballots to indicate which of the said defendants the voters casting the same intended to elect in case there were but three instead of four vacancies; that on and after the 1st day of January next succeeding said general election the four defendants, each and all of them claiming and asserting that they had been elected thereat as such Justice of the Supreme Court in said Second Judicial District, attempted to qualify and act, and entered upon the duties of office; that the vacancy caused by the death of Calvin E. Pratt could not lawfully be filled until the general election of November 3, 1897, and at such time the relator herein was duly voted for and elected his successor, but the defendants have withheld from him such office and have'jointly and severally usurped the same. Judgment is asked “upon the pretended rights of said defendants and each of them to hold the office of Justice of the Supreme Court in the Second Judicial District,” and also upon the right of the relator to hold said office.

Without passing upon the question of whether or not there is a misjoinder of causes- of action, upon which ground the learned judge at Special Term dismissed the complaint, we think that upon the

The precise words of section 4 of article 6 of the state Constitution are as follows:

“When a vacancy shall occur otherwise than by expiration oí term in the office of Justice of the Supreme Court, the same shall be filled for a full term, at the next general election, happening not less than three months after such vacancy occurs.”

The complaint shows that the vacancy, which it is contended was not properly filled by the election of the defendants, occurred on August 3, 1896, and that the election in question took place on November 3, 1896. At the date of the election, therefore, exactly three months had expired; and hence that election was not, by the terms of the Constitution, one forbidden for the purpose of choosing a successor to fill the vacancy. The prohibition is that it should occur at a time not less ftian three months, or, differently stated, the election should be at least three months after the vacancy. The 2d of November would have been less than the prescribed time, but the 3d of November, 1896, happened “not less than three months,” or exactly three months, after the vacancy.

The statutory construction law (section 26, c. 677, p. 1490, Laws 1892), although it has no application to or bearing upon the Constitution of the state, is not without use by way of analogy, in pointing out how statutes or laws should be construed. Therein it is provided that “a number of months after a certain day shall be computed by counting such number of calendar months from such day exclusive of the calendar month in which such day occurs and shall include the day of the month in the last month so counted having the same numerical order in days of the month as the day from which the computation is, made.” Adopting this rule, the 3d of November would mark the completion of three months from the death of the justice whose office it is claimed has been wrongfully held, and hence the election did not occur at a time “less than” the three months.

The appellants’ contention is that November 4th would have been the first date upon which an election could properly be held, as that was the first day over three months from the time the vacancy occurred. This contention would be good if the provision of the Constitution was that the election must be one happening over three months from the time of the vacancy; but the Constitution, as stated, provides that the election must be one “happening not less than” three months, so that three situations may occur, namely, a time less than three months, at which time no legal election may take place; exactly three months, and over three months, at which times a proper election may be held. According, however, to the view of the appellants that an entire three months must elapse before the happening of the election, then, strictly measuring the elapsed time, the vacancy occurred in the morning of August 3, 1896, and the election “happened” at the time the votes were cast (People ex rel. Le Roy v. Foley, 148 N. Y. 677 , 43 N. E. 171 ), which was when the poles were closed at 5 o’clock November 3d, so that there was over three months of elapsed time.

In this complaint there are general allegations that the defendants have usurped and unlawfully hold office, and if these stood alone they might be sufficient to require an answer (People ex rel. Crane v. Ryder, 12 N. Y. 433 ); but the complaint goes further, and specifies the facts from which is made, to appear the ground or theory upon which the plaintiff claims that the alleged unlawful holding arises, and these specific allegations being insufficient, because not stating a cause of action, it follows that the pleading itself is insufficient. Abbotts Trial Brief on Pleadings, § 63.

We think, therefore, that the demurrers'should be sustained, and the judgment entered dismissing the complaint was right, and should be affirmed, with costs.

PATTERSON, McLAUGHLIN, and LAUGHLIN, JJ., concur. VAN BRUNT, P. J., concurs in result.