State ex rel. Morgan v. Voorhies

The opinion of the court was delivered by Nicholls, C. J. On the 15th of July, 1895, the Jeanerette Lumber and Shingle Company brought suit against the relator in the Nineteenth Judicial District for the parish of St. Martin alleging that he had trespassed and was still trespassing upon property belonging to it— cutting down trees, etc. The company, applied for and obtained from the clerk of the District Court (in the absence of the judge) an injunction restraining Morgan from going upon the .land or removing or causing to be removed the timber which had been cut down by him or through his orders. The District Judge recused himself by reason of interest and of haying been consulted in reference to the issues involved, and appointed Daniel W. Yoorhies, judge ad hoe. [808] Defendant having answered the case went to trial, and judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff, perpetuating the injunction. Subsequent to the signing of the judgment, plaintiff applied -to the court for a rule upon the defendant to show cause why he should not be punished for contempt of court, it being alleged that he had violated the injunction. The judge ad hoc took cognizance of the application, and under his signature directed the rule to issue as prayed for. Defendant as a relator has applied to this court for a writs of certiorari and prohibtion — urging that the authority of the judge ad hoc ceased with his signature to the judgment. We are not of that opinion. So long as he has not resigned or vacated the position in some legal way and the case is before the court in which the appointment was made, the judge ad hoc retains control over it. The cause, in a limited sense, may be considered terminated, but for many purposes it remains a pending suit until finally disposed of. (Brown vs. Pontchartrain Land Co., 49 An. 1779; State ex rel. Ludeling vs. Judge, 39 An. 794.) We see no good reason in support of relator’s position. The grounds upon which the District judge recused himself still existing, he would be as unable to take action in the case as he was before, and it would be a useless formality (to say the least) to require the court to make a reappointment of the same attorney in order to authorize him to control and supervise the execution of the judgment which he had himself rendered. For the reasons assigned it is hereby ordered and decreed that the orders and writs heretofore issued herein be set aside and relator’s application is dismissed at his costs.