On the day and hour designated in the summons the judge, after hearing in person or by their counsel the parties who appear, shall appoint an administrator. The judge may appoint the surviving spouse, or the party having the largest interest in the inheritance or in the estate, if he or she have the necessary capacity for the discharge of the duties of administrator, or if such capacity be wanting, or if the interest of all be equal, or objections be made to such appointment, the judge shall appoint a stranger of well-known integrity and capacity.
History —Code Civil Proc., 1933, § 564.