Faucette v. Gerlach

HART, J., (after stating the facts). In the discussion of the validity of the acts of an officer de facto because of ineligibility, Judge Constantineau said: “A person who enters into an office and undertakes the performance of the duties thereof by virtue of an election or appointment, is an officer de facto, though he was ineligible at the time he was elected or appointed, or has subsequently become disabled to hold the office.” Indeed, it is settled by a current of authority almost unbroken for over 500 yeaxs in England and this country, that ineligibility to hold an office does not prevent the ineligible incumbent, if in possession under color of right and authority, from being an officer de facto with respect to his official acts, in so far as third persons are concerned. The reason of the rule is that “the eligibility of an officer is as difficult of ascertainment as his actual election, and sound policy requires that the public should be no more required to investigate the one than the other, before according respect to his official position.” Constantineau on the De Facto Doctrine, §, 151. On the same question Judge Cooley said: “An officer de facto is one who by some color of right is in possession of an office and for the time being performs its duties with public acquiescence, though having no right in fact. His color of right may come from an election or appointment made by some officer or body having colorable.but no actual right to make it; or made in such disregard of legal requirements as to be ineffectual in law; or made to fill the place of an officer illegally removed ; or made in favor of a party not having the legal qualifications; or it may come from public acquiescence in the officer holding without performing the precedent conditions, or holding over under claim of right after his legal right has been terminated; or possibly from public acquiescence alone when accompanied by such circumstances of official reputations as are calculated to induce people, without inquiry, to submit to or invoke official action on the supposition that the person claiming the office is what-he assumes to be.” Cooley on Constitutional .Limitations (7 ed.), pages 897 and 898. Continuing, the learned author said: “But for the sake of order and regularity, and to prevent confusion in the conduct of public business and insecurity of private rights, the acts of officers de facto are not suffered to be questioned because of the want of legal authority except by some direct proceeding instituted for the purpose by the State or by some one claiming the office de pire, or except when the person himself attempts to build up some right, or claim some privilege or emolument, by reason of being the officer which he claims to be. In all other cases the acts of an officer de facto are as valid and effectual, while he is suffered to retain the office, as though he were an officer by right, and the same legal consequences will flow from them for the protection of the public and of third parties. This is an important principle, which finds concise expression in the legal maxim that the acts of officers de facto can not be questioned collaterally.” Ib. 898. Chancellor Kent said: “In the case of public officers, who are such de facto acting under color of office by an election or appointment not strictly legal, or without having qualified themselves by the requisite tests, or by holding over after the period prescribed for a new appointment, as in the case of sheriffs, constables, etc.; their acts are held valid as respects the rights of third persons who have an interest in them, and as concerns the public, in order to prevent a failure of justice.” Kent’s Commentaries, (14 ed.), Vol. 2, p. 295. In Mayo v. Stoneum, 2 Ala. 390, the court held that the official acts of a judge de facto whose title to the office has not been adjudged insufficient are valid and irreversible. In that case it was assigned as error that the individual who presided at the term ot the court when the judgment was rendered, though duly elected judge, was constitutionally ineligible at the time of his election. In McClendon, Mayor, v. State ex rel., 129 Ark. 286, 195 S. W. 686, this court held that the qualifications of de facto aldermen to serve could not be inquired into in a collateral proceeding, such as the city’s mandamus suit to compel the mayor to execute and sign a contract as directed by an ordinance passed over his veto by a vote to which the votes of the aldermen were essential. In the case of Lockhart v. City of Troy, 48 Ala. 579, it was held that the official acts of a person disqualified to hold office by reason of his participation and aid to the Confederate States against the United States was not void, when such person holds his office under authority of the rightful government of the State, until after his right to the office is determined against him in some legal way. See also Fancher v. Stearns, 61 Vt. 616; Hooper v. Goodwin, 48 Me. 79; Farrier v. State ex rel. Dugan, 48 N. J. L. 613, 7 Atl. 881; In re Collins, 75 N. Y. App. Div. 87, 77 N. Y. Supp. 702; Morford v. Territory, 10 Okla. 741, 54 L. R. A. 513; Johnson v. Sanders, 131 Ky. 537, 115 S. W. 772. In State ex rel. Brockmeier v. Ely (N. D.), 14 L. R. A. (N. S.) 638, the court, in discussing the validity of the acts of a de facto officer as to third persons and the public, held that by “third persons” is meant those persons having business of an official character with such officer, and not third persons in the usual legal sense in which the term is used. The acts of the city council in relation to the impeachment of Gerlach were in the nature of judicial proceedings. The general rule is that the official acts of de facto judicial officers, within the scope of their jurisdiction, are as valid and binding as if they were the acts of de jure officers. Constantineau on the De Facto Doctrine, par. 422, and authorities supra. This rule was recognized by this court in Keith v. State, 49 Ark. 439. Roberts was duly elected and qualified and was acting as alderman when he participated in the trial of Gerlach. His title to the office had not been questioned and had not been adjudged insufficient. He was recognized as a member of the council by the public. He was an officer de facto, and as such his acts were valid. It is, also, contended that, the impeachment proceedings were void because a part of the proceedings were secret. The record shows that Gerlach was given a pub-lie hearing and had counsel to represent him. After the witnesses were examined and the matter was submitted to the council for its decision, the members retired into a private room for the purpose of deliberation. There was nothing wrong in this. As we have already seen, the impeachment proceedings were of a judicial nature, and it was entirely proper for the members of the council to retire for the purpose of considering their verdict. It follows from what we have said that the circuit court erred in quashing the impeachment proceedings, and the judgment will be reversed and the petition of Gferlach for a writ of certiorari will be dismissed here.