Geurts v. District Court of Salt Lake County
Geurts v. District Court of Salt Lake County
Opinion of the Court
Theodore I. Geurts was charged with malfeasance in office as City Commissioner of Salt Lake City and was proceeded against to be removed therefrom under Chapter 7 of Title 77, U.C.A.1953. The charge was in three counts: (1) that he received a real estate broker’s commission on property purchased by the city; (2) that he had city employees remove certain shrubbery and top soil from the City Cemetery and haul the same in city equipment to his residence and the residence of his son-in-law; and (3) that he approved payment of overtime to certain employees for time never served. The trial court granted a motion
Subsequent to the return of the jury verdict petitioner sought a delay of the entry of judgment and petitioned this court for an extraordinary writ to prohibit the district court from entering judgment because the effect thereof would be to remove him from office pending an appeal under the provisions of Sec. 77-7-14, U.C.A.1953.
This case is one in which the remedy at law is clearly set forth under the statute. The legislature appears to have foreseen this very situation and expressly provided that after such a judgment, the public official “shall be suspended from his office” during an appeal.
It is well established that the Supreme Court is extremely reluctant to interfere with the regular procedures in the district court by the issuance of an extraordinary writ. Generally, errors claimed to have been committed must be reviewed on appeal.
The petition for the writ is denied.
. 77-7-14, U.C.A.1953.
. Atwood v. Cox, 88 Utah 437, 55 P.2d 377; Olsen v. District Court, 106 Utah 220, 147 P.2d 471; State ex rel. Welling v. Third Judicial District Court, 87 Utah. 416, 49 P.2d 950.
. Ibid. See also Parker v. Morgan, 48 Utah 405, 160 P. 764.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent. Doing so:
1. I think an opinion published in this case at this time to be ill-advised. We performed our function when we denied the petition. There is nothing in the main opinion that this court has not already said so far as its jurisprudential aspect is concerned. To report nationally, for all to see, a recitation of the judgment against petitioner for malfeasance in office, will cause heartache and damage to a number of people, and good to none. Such damage will be done, — even though this court later may reverse the trial court. Sufficient
2. I think the main opinion is, in effect, a premature and anticipatory adjudication on the merits of part of this case. It asserts that “the remedy at law is clearly set forth under the statute,” which would seem to dispose of one of the main contentions of petitioner to the effect that the wrong procedure was pursued, a point he indicated would be made the subject of urgency on a regular, orderly appellate review.
3. I believe there might be a reasonably meritorious argument as to the constitutional propi'iety of denying petitioner the use of the discovery process under the rules.
. Rule 65B (f) (3), Utah Rules of Civil Procedure.
. Petitioner claims tlie action should have been pursued by the Attorney General instead of the District Attorney. See Rule 65B (b) (1) et sea.
. Rule 26, U.R.C.P.
. Skeen v. Craig, 31 Utah 20, 86 P. 487; Burke v. Knox, 59 Utah 596, 206 P. 711.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Theodore I. GEURTS v. DISTRICT COURT OF SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah, and Judge Ray Van Cott, Jr.
- Status
- Published