In re Curtis

Habbison, J. While the respondent held the office of supervisor of the fourth district of the county of Sac'ramento, an accusation was filed against him in the superior court for that county by D. J. McGowan, under the provisions of section 772 of the Penal Code, charging him with collecting illegal fees and neglecting to perform his official duties. To this accusation the respondent filed a demurrer upon various grounds, which Was sustained by the court, and the accuser declining to amend his accusation, the court entered a judgment dismissing the proceeding. From this judgment McGowan has appealed.. The respondent has moved to dismiss the appeal upon the ground that an appeal from the action of the court under this section of the Penal Code is unauthorized.

The charge against the respondent is of a public offense—a neglect of official duty, or misdemeanor in office—and the proceeding against him is a criminal proceeding in the nature of an impeachment. (In re Marks, 45 Cal. 199.) At the common law an officer guilty of neglect of official duty was liable to indictment and punishment by removal from office. (Throop on Public Officers, c. 32; Bacon’s Abridgment, tit. Offices and Officers, note. See, also, opinion of Kent, J., in note to People v. Denton, 2 Johns. Cas. 275.) Article IV, section 18, of the constitution of this state, after providing that certain state officers shall be liable to impeachment for misdemeanor in office, declares: “All other civil officers shall be tried for misdemeanor in office in such manner as the legislature may provide.” By section 772 of the Penal Code the legislature has provided a manner for the trial of certain misdemeanors in office, by authorizing an accusation in writing, verified by the oath of any person, to be presented to the superior court, and, if upon a hearing thereon after a citation to the accused the charges are sustained, the court is authorized to remove the accused from office. These proceedings are intended to be summary, and, as the legislature has made no provision for a review of the action of the [663]superior court, its judgment is final. (See Appeal of Houghton, 42 Cal. 35; Bixler’s Appeal, 59 Cal. 550.)

By article VI, section 4, of the constitution, the supreme court is given appellate jurisdiction “ in all criminal cases prosecuted by indictment or information in a court of record on questions of law alone.” Section 682 of the Penal Code declares that:

“ Sec. 682. Every public offense must be prosecuted by indictment or information, except, 1. Where proceedings are had for the removal of civil officers of the state.”