Spector v. Superior Court, 361 P.2d 909 (Cal. 1961). · Go Syfert
Spector v. Superior Court, 361 P.2d 909 (Cal. 1961). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
143 citation events (37 in the last 25 years) across 4 distinct courts.
Treatment trajectory · 1962 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1962 1994 2026
Cited for
55 Cal. 2d at 843 “lacking in all the attributes of a judicial determination”24 citing cases3 citing courts quote it
  • Marriage of Ciliberto & Firth, No. B251411 (Cal. Ct. App. Jan. 19, 2016).unpublished
    ([i]t is a cardinal principle of our jurisprudence that a party should not be bound or concluded by a judgment unless he has had his day in court)
  • Conservatorship of David L., 164 Cal. App. 4th 701 (Cal. Ct. App. 2008).published
    A judicial decision made without giving a party an opportunity to present argument or evidence in support of his contention ‘is lacking in all the attributes of a judicial determination.’ ” (Marsden, supra, at pp. 123-124 , quoting Spector…
  • In Re Marriage of Carlsson, 163 Cal. App. 4th 281 (Cal. Ct. App. 2008).published
    It amountfs] to a deprival of a substantial statutory right ...” (Spector v. Superior Court (1961) 55 Cal.2d 839, 843-844 [ 13 Cal.Rptr. 189 , 361 P.2d 909 ] (Spector).) “Only judge when you have heard all.” — Greek proverb.
  • Bricker v. Superior Court, 35 Cal. Rptr. 3d 7 (Cal. Ct. App. 2005).published
    It amount[s] to a deprival of a substantial statutory right . . . .” (Spector v. Superior Court (1961) 55 Cal.2d 839, 843-844 [ 13 Cal.Rptr. 189 , 361 P.2d 909 ].) California Rules of Court, rule 155, which deals with the dismissal of smal…
  • People v. Dickey, 111 P.3d 921 (Cal. 2005).published
    “is lacking in all the attributes of a judicial determination”
  • People v. Jones, 64 P.3d 762 (Cal. 2003).published
    A judicial decision made without giving a party an opportunity to present argument or evidence in support of his contention ‘is lacking in all the attributes of a judicial determination.’ (Spector v. Superior Court (1961) 55 Cal.2d 839, 84…
  • People v. Earp, 978 P.2d 15 (Cal. 1999).published
    A judicial decision made without giving a party an opportunity to present argument or evidence in support of his contention ‘is lacking in all the attributes of a judicial determination.’ (Spector v. Superior Court (1961) 55 Cal.2d 839, 84…
  • Meller & Snyder v. R & T Props., Inc., 62 Cal. App. 4th 1303 (Cal. Ct. App. 1998).published
    (Cf. Spector v. Superior Court (1961) 55 Cal.2d 839, 843-844 [ 13 Cal.Rptr. 189 , 361 P.2d 909 ] [refusal to permit petitioner to present any evidence or argument in support of motion for order modifying preliminary injunction]; Fewel v. F…
  • Beverly Hills Multispecialty Grp., Inc. v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd., 59 Cal. Comp. Cases 461 (Cal. Ct. App. 1994).published
    (See Dvorin v. Appellate Dept. (1975) 15 Cal.3d 648, 651 [ 125 Cal.Rptr. 771 , 542 P.2d 1363 ] [summary judgment ordered without motion]; Spector v. Superior Court (1961) 55 Cal.2d 839, 843-844 [ 13 Cal.Rptr. 189 , 361 P.2d 909 ] [judge re…
  • In Re Marriage of O'Connell, 8 Cal. App. 4th 565 (Cal. Ct. App. 1992).published
    (Moore v. California Minerals etc. Corp. (1953) 115 Cal.App.2d 834, 836-837 [ 252 P.2d 1005 ]; cf. In re Marriage of Hoffmeister (1984) 161 Cal.App.3d 1163, 1168-1171 [ 208 Cal.Rptr. 345 ]; Spector v. Superior Court (1961) 55 Cal.2d 839, 8…
Show 14 more citing cases
  • Gutzi Assocs. v. Switzer, 215 Cal. App. 3d 1636 (Cal. Ct. App. 1989).published
    (See Spector v. Superior Court (1961) 55 Cal.2d 839, 843-844 [ 13 Cal.Rptr. 189 , 361 P.2d 909 ].) During a hearing, however, the trial judge signaled his intention to address the issue in an amended memorandum of decision, indicating at t…
  • Bouchard v. Insona, 105 Cal. App. 3d 768 (Cal. Ct. App. 1980).published
    In holding that the noticed date was not too late for challenging the judge regularly assigned to the law and motion department, the court, after quoting the language of Eagle Maintenance set out above, observed that “. . . there was a dis…
  • People v. Wright, 72 Cal. App. 3d 328 (Cal. Ct. App. 1977).published
    “lacking in all the attributes of a judicial determination”
  • In Re Olson, 37 Cal. App. 3d 783 (Cal. Ct. App. 1974).published
    (See Randone v. Appellate Department, 5 Cal.3d 536, 547 [ 96 Cal.Rptr. 709 , 488 P.2d 13 ] [cert, den., 407 U.S. 924 ( 32 L.Ed.2d 811 , 92 S.Ct. 2452 )]; People v. Marsden, 2 Cal.3d 118, 124-125 [ 84 Cal.Rptr. 156 , 465 P.2d 44 ]; Spector…
  • In Re Miller, 33 Cal. App. 3d 1005 (Cal. Ct. App. 1973).published
    A judicial decision made without giving a party an opportunity to present argument or evidence in support of his contention ‘is lacking in all the attributes of a judicial determination.’ (Spector v. Superior Court (1961) 55 Cal.2d 839, 84…
  • People v. Jacobs, 27 Cal. App. 3d 246 (Cal. Ct. App. 1972).published 2 cites
    (See People v. Marsden, supra, 2 Cal.3d 118, 124 ; Spector v. Superior Court, 55 Cal.2d 839, 843 [ 13 Cal. Rptr. 189 , 361 P.2d 909 ].) The record before us discloses that the judge below requested both parties to file affidavits and that…
  • People v. Marsden, 465 P.2d 44 (Cal. 1970).published 2 cites
    “is lacking in all the attributes of a judicial determination”
  • People v. Succop, 433 P.2d 473 (Cal. 1967).published
    (Cf. Spector v. Superior Court, 55 Cal.2d 839, 843-844 [ 13 Cal.Rptr. 189 , 361 P.2d 909 ] ; People v. Sarazzawski, 27 Cal.2d 7, 18 [ 161 P.2d 934 ].) The order committing defendant to Atascadero State Hospital for a period not to exceed 9…
  • In re Burhans, 418 P.2d 1 (Cal. 1966).published
    (See Spector v. Superior Court, 55 Cal.2d 839, 843 [3] [ 13 Cal.Rptr. 189 , 361 P.2d 909 ].) In the present case, a petition was filed March 25, 1966, by petitioner’s wife under section 5551 of the Welfare and Institutions Code to have him…
  • Thompson v. Superior Court, 206 Cal. App. 2d 702 (Cal. Ct. App. 1962).published
    In People v. Smith, *707 196 Cal.App.2d 854 , 859 2 [ 17 Cal.Rptr. 330 ], the court states: “We construe it to be the intent of the Legislature that where a litigant has not previously exercised his privilege under 170.6 he may do so in a…
  • Callahan v. Chatsworth Park, Inc., 204 Cal. App. 2d 597 (Cal. Ct. App. 1962).published
    (See Spector v. Superior Court, 55 Cal.2d 839, 843-844 [ 13 Cal.Rptr. 189 , 361 P.2d 909 ]; People v. Elliot, 54 Cal.2d 498, 506 [ 6 Cal.Rptr. 753 , 354 P.2d 225 ] ; People v. Sarazzawski, 27 Cal.2d 7, 11 [ 161 P.2d 934 ].) Judgment revers…
  • McCarthy v. Mobile Cranes, Inc., 199 Cal. App. 2d 500 (Cal. Ct. App. 1962).published
    (Spector v. Superior Court, 55 Cal.2d 839, 843-844 [ 13 Cal.Rptr. 189 , 361 *510 P.2d 909]; People v. Elliot, 54 Cal.2d 498, 506 [ 6 Cal.Rptr. 753 , 354 P.2d 225 ]; 3 Witkin, California Procedure, § 112, p. 2285.) Judgment reversed.
  • Marriage of Sample, No. C071542 (Cal. Ct. App. Aug. 20, 2014).unpublished
    (Kelly v. New West Federal Savings (1996) 49 Cal.App.4th 659, 677 ; see Spector v. Superior Court (1961) 55 Cal.2d 839, 843, 844 .)” (Elkins v. Superior Court (2007) 41 Cal.4th 1337, 1357 , italics omitted.) When mother appeared for the he…
  • Elkins v. Superior Court, 163 P.3d 160 (Cal. 2007).published 6 cites
    Subject to such obvious qualifications as the court's power to restrict cumulative and rebuttal evidence [citation], and to exclude unduly prejudicial matter [citation], denial of this fundamental right is almost always considered reversib…
55 Cal. 2d at 844 Clatchy v. Superior Court, 119 Cal. 413, 418, 421 [51 P. 696, 39 L.R.A. 691]; Collins v. Superior Court, 145 Cal.App.2d 588, 594 [4] [302 P.2d 805]; Estate of…5 citing casesopening of page *844 (no citing court says what it cites this page for)
  • People v. Braxton, 101 P.3d 994 (Cal. 2004).published
    (See People v. Superior Court (Zamudio) (2000) 23 Cal.4th 183, 197 [ 96 Cal.Rptr.2d 463 , 999 P.2d 686 ]; People v. Flood (1998) 18 Cal.4th 470, 488 [ 76 Cal.Rptr.2d 180 , 957 P.2d 869 ]; People v. Cahill, supra, 5 Cal.4th at p. 495, fn. 1…
  • In Re Christina B., 19 Cal. App. 4th 1441 (Cal. Ct. App. 1993).published
    Specifically, the guardian may not compromise fundamental rights, including the right to trial, without some countervailing and significant benefit. (3b) While an analysis of prejudice would often be called for when considering the effect…
  • San Diego Cnty. Dep't of Soc. Servs. v. Agatha B., 19 Cal. App. 4th 1441 (Cal. Ct. App. 1993).published
    While an analysis of prejudice would often be called for when considering the effect of an inappropriate waiver of procedural rights, we believe no such analysis is required where, as here, the right to a hearing itself has been abandoned…
  • People v. Wilson, 383 P.2d 452 (Cal. 1963).published 2 cites
    People v. Brommel, 56 Cal.2d 629, 634 [ 15 Cal.Rptr. 909 , 364 P.2d 845 ], held that, “. . . the admission of involuntary confessions compels a reversal, and section 4%, article VI, of the Constitution can under no circumstances save the j…
  • Dvorin v. Appellate Dep't, 542 P.2d 1363 (Cal. 1975).published 3 cites
    (Callahan v. Chatsworth Park, Inc. (1962) 204 Cal.App.2d 597, 610 [ 22 Cal.Rptr. 606 ]; see Spector v. Superior Court (1961) 55 Cal.2d 839, 844 [ 13 Cal.Rptr. 189 , 361 P.2d 909 ].) Defendant next contends the appellate department’s constr…
55 Cal. 2d at 842 defendants from dissolving the corporation and to require them to rescind steps already taken toward dissolution. The motion was accompanied by affidavits of…2 citing casesopening of page *842 (no citing court says what it cites this page for)
  • La Cty. Dept. of Pub. Soc. Serv. v. Superior Ct., 69 Cal. App. 3d 407 (Cal. Ct. App. 1977).published
    Cases may be transferred at any time before the regular time fixed for adjournment. "`.... .... .... .... ...'" [6] Rule 245(a)(1), entitled Distribution of Business — in General, provides in pertinent part: "All cases, except those under…
  • L.A. Cty. Dep't of Pub. Soc. Servs. v. Superior Court of L.A. Cty., 69 Cal. App. 3d 407 (Cal. Ct. App. 1977).published
    Rule 245(a)(1), entitled Distribution of Business—in General, provides in pertinent part: “All cases, except those under the Juvenile Court Law and Conciliation Court Law, shall on filing be assigned automatically to the department of the…
361 P.2d at 912 “is lacking in all the attributes of a judicial determination”1 citing case1 citing court quotes it
  • Williams v. State, 551 A.2d 905 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 1989).published
    “is lacking in all the attributes of a judicial determination”
Other citing cases3 with no pin cite or quoted language on record
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
DAVID S. SPECTOR, Petitioner,
v.
SUPERIOR COURT OF SAN MATEO COUNTY, Respondent; THE INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL PHYSICS (A Nonprofit Corporation) Et Al., Real Parties in Interest
S. F. 20644.
California Supreme Court.
May 22, 1961.
Published opinion
361 P.2d 909
1961 Cal. LEXIS 264
Moerdyke, Anderson, Evans & Rhodes and Stanley R. Evans for Petitioner., No appearance for Respondent., Rosellini, Vallerga & Mitchell and James M. Mitchell for Real Parties in Interest.
McCOMB.
Cited by 54 opinions  |  Published
McCOMB, J.

— Petitioner is a director, a member, and the Executive Director of The Institute of Medical Physics, a nonprofit California corporation (hereinafter referred to as “the corporation”). He seeks (1) a writ of mandate to restrain the Honorable Aylett R. Cotton, Judge of the Superior Court of San Mateo County, from proceeding further with judicial dissolution of the corporation, and (2) a writ of mandate directing the vacation of an order denying petitioner’s motion to modify a preliminary injunction allowing such dissolution.

Chronology

(1) September 27, 1960, petitioner filed a complaint on behalf of the corporation in the San Mateo Superior Court, proceeding No. 91313.

It was alleged that the four named defendants, also directors of the corporation, had been guilty of breach of trust in[*841] diverting corporate funds for their personal gain, or for the benefit of organizations in which they were personally interested, and in stating their desire to dissolve the corporation and distribute the assets to themselves as individuals. The prayer of the complaint requested that defendants be removed as directors and be required to reimburse the corporation for such illegally diverted funds. It also requested a preliminary injunction pendente lite restraining defendants from taking any action as directors.

(2) October 11, 1960, after a hearing, Judge Wayne E. Millington, of the San Mateo Superior Court, granted a preliminary injunction restraining defendants from performing any acts as directors (including the filing of a petition for dissolution of the corporation) other than those required to carry on the routine daily business of the corporation, and appointed a temporary receiver to supervise such business.

(3) October 24, 1960, defendants filed, without notice to petitioner, in the Superior Court of San Mateo County, a petition for dissolution of the corporation, proceeding No. 91688, and on the same date filed a motion in proceeding No. 91313 for an order vacating the preliminary injunction of October 11, 1960.

(4) October 31, 1960, Judge Cotton heard and denied defendants’ motion to vacate the preliminary injunction.

(5) November 16, 1960, the receiver petitioned the court for instructions because of the conflict between the terms of the preliminary injunction and the steps taken by defendants toward dissolving the corporation.

(6) November 25, 1960, following a hearing, Judge Milling-ton made an order providing that the receiver 11 shall continue to supervise the conduct of the business [of the corporation] ... in the manner provided for” in the preliminary injunction.

(7) November 29, 1960, defendants filed a notice of motion for modification of the preliminary injunction.

(8) December 8, 1960, Judge Cotton heard defendants’ motion filed November 29, 1960, and modified the preliminary injunction to allow them to proceed with a dissolution of the corporation.

(9) December 14,1960, an order to show cause was issued in proceeding No. 91688 directing petitioner to show why the corporation should not be dissolved.

(10) December 16, 1960, petitioner moved in proceeding No. 91313 for an order modifying the preliminary injunction (as modified by the order of December 8. 1960) to restrain[*842] defendants from dissolving the corporation and to require them to rescind steps already taken toward dissolution. The motion was accompanied by affidavits of petitioner and his counsel setting out (a) the fact that the corporation has an annual budget of $150,000 and is solvent and (b) a detailed list of the services and outstanding legal and ethical obligations of the corporation to its many public and private clients in medical research and related disciplines. No counteraffidavits were filed.

(11) December 21,1960, the motion filed December 16,1960, in proceeding No. 91313 and the order to show cause in proceeding No. 91688 were called at the same time on the law and motion calendar, with Judge Cotton presiding.

Counsel for petitioner immediately requested that both matters be heard by Judge Millington (who was available), because the latter had issued the original injunction and had instructed the receiver and therefore “was familiar with the background of the litigation.” Judge Cotton denied the request and ruled that he would hear the matters.

Petitioner’s counsel then promptly filed an affidavit of bias and prejudice as to each of the matters, requesting that Judge Cotton disqualify himself. Judge Cotton denied petitioner’s request, on the ground that the affidavits of disqualification were filed “too late.”

After a brief hearing, Judge Cotton made an order declaring the corporation dissolved and appointing a receiver, and an order denying petitioner’s motion to modify the preliminary injunction.

(12) January 1, 1961, Judge Cotton retired from the Superior Court of San Mateo County.

These are the questions necessary for us to determine:

First. Should Judge Cotton have disqualified himself under the provisions of section 170.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure when petitioner’s counsel filed the affidavits of bias and prejudice against him ?

Yes. He should have disqualified himself in proceeding No. 91688.

Section 170.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that no judge of any superior court of the State of California shall try any civil action or special proceeding of any kind or character, nor hear any matter therein which involves a contested issue of law or fact, when any party or any attorney anpearing in such action or proceeding establishes prejudice by an oral or written motion, without notice, supported by an[*843] affidavit that the judge before whom such action or proceeding is pending is prejudiced against such party, or the interest of such party, so that such party cannot, or believes that he cannot, have a fair and impartial trial or hearing before such judge.

Where the judge assigned to, or who is scheduled to try the cause or hear the matter, is known at least ten days before the date set for trial or hearing, the motion shall be made at least five days before that date.

If the motion is directed to a hearing (other than the trial of a cause), the motion must be made not later than the commencement of the hearing.

Applying the foregoing rules to the facts of the present case, it appears that petitioner’s counsel, as soon as he knew that Judge Cotton was going to hear the matters before him, filed an affidavit of bias and prejudice against Judge Cotton as to each of the matters, requesting that he disqualify himself. The record shows that petitioner’s motion was made “at the commencement of the hearing on December 21, 1960,” and that petitioner did not know prior to such date that Judge Cotton intended to hear these matters.

Since the December 21, 1960, hearing was the first court hearing in proceeding No. 91688, it is clear that Judge Cotton was disqualified from taking further action in that proceeding and should have disqualified himself. (Cf. Johnson v. Superior Court, 50 Cal.2d 693 [329 P.2d 5].)

Second. In proceeding No. 91313 was petitioner deprived of his day in court?

Yes. On December 21, 1960, when petitioner’s motion for an order modifying the preliminary injunction came on for hearing, Judge Cotton refused to permit counsel for petitioner to present any evidence or argument in support of his client’s position.

It is a cardinal principle of our jurisprudence that a party should not be bound or concluded by a judgment unless he has had his day in court. This means that a party must be duly cited to appear and afforded an opportunity to be heard and to offer evidence at such hearing in support of his contentions.

His right to a hearing does not depend upon the will, caprice or discretion of the trial judge who is to make a decision upon the issues.

An order or judgment without such an opportunity is lacking in all the attributes of a judicial determination. (Mc- [*844] Clatchy v. Superior Court, 119 Cal. 413, 418, 421 [51 P. 696, 39 L.R.A. 691]; Collins v. Superior Court, 145 Cal.App.2d 588, 594 [4] [302 P.2d 805]; Estate of Buchman, 123 Cal.App. 2d 546, 554 [5], 560 [267 P.2d 73, 47 A.L.R.2d 291] [hearing denied by the Supreme Court].)

Refusal to permit counsel for petitioner to present evidence and make a reasonable argument in support of his client’s position was not a mere error in procedure. It amounted to a deprival of a substantial statutory right and is not covered by article VI, section 4%, of the Constitution. (People v. Sarazzawski, 27 Cal.2d 7, 17 [13] et seq. [161 P.2d 934].)

It would appear that the two actions here involved present essentially the same, or overlapping, issues and therefore should be consolidated and disposed of as a single proceeding.

Let a writ of mandate issue directing respondent court (1) to vacate its order of December 21, 1960, dissolving the corporation in proceeding No. 91688 and (2) to set aside the order denying petitioner’s motion in proceeding No. 91313, and requiring respondent court to grant petitioner a hearing on said motion.

Gibson, C. J., Traynor, J., Schauer, J., Peters, J., White, J., and Dooling, J., concurred.