Wilken v. Exterkamp

JUDGE PAYNTER delivered the opinion of the court. The appellant, Herman Wilken, sought to recover damages of the appellee, Henry Exterkamp, for an assault and battery. The appellee’s plea was not guilty. Evidence was offered by the defendant tending to show that the plaintiff had first assaulted appellee. Appellee did not plead son assault desmesne, therefore, he was not entitled to prove that the appellant had first assaulted him. As there was not a plea of justification, the court erred in authorizing the jury to find for thie defendant, if the assault was made in self-defense. The burden was on the plaintiff. The court declined to allow counsel for the plaintiff to argue the case on the ground that the calendared business of the court did not permit the case to be argued. In this we think the court was in error. [145] Section 317, Civil Code of Practice, is as follows: “When the jury has been sworn, the trial shall proceed in the following order, unless the court, for special reasons, otherwise direct. * * * The parties may then submit or argue the case to the jury.” * * * This section contemplates that either party shall have the right to argue the case. The court said, in Sodousky, &o. v. McG-ee, á J. J. Marshall, 271: “Every person has a legal, as well as a natural right, to be heard in his own cause; and no rule of practice cam deprive him-of that right, if, at a proper time and in a proper manner, he proposes to exercise it. * * The right to appear and defend by testimony and argument, is a personal right.” * * * In Belmore v. Caldwell, 2 Bibb, the court said: “But we think the court erred in restraining the plaintiff’s counsel from arguing the facts before the jury. The right of appearing by counsel, and arguing matters of fact involved in the cause, is a right which the court ought not to have denied to the party.” This court has frequently reversed cases because the court below did not allow counsel for litigants to proceed in proper order in the argument. It has likewise recognized the right of the court to place reasonable and proper limitations upon counsel in the argument of cases. It seems to us there can be no doubt that the right exists for litigants to have their causes argued by counsel in trial courts where there are disputed facts. The judgment is reversed for a new trial and for proceedings consistent with this opinion.