Opinion ID: 2634704
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: conclusion

Text: ¶ 22 A legislative act is presumed to be constitutional and will be upheld until the contrary is shown. [54] Because prisoners are not a suspect class, and the provisions of 57 O.S.2001 § 566.2 [55] do not implicate fundamental rights, and are rationally related to the legitimate governmental interest of deterring frivolous prisoner lawsuits, [56] no showing has been made that the statute is unconstitutional under either the federal or the state constitution. The Court is duty-bound to give effect to legislative acts, not to amend, repeal or circumvent them. [57] Under the current statutory scheme, inmates are not barred from filing lawsuits if there are no funds. [58] However, pursuant to 57 O.S.2001 § 566.2, [59] unless an inmate is under immediate danger of serious physical injury, inmates who continue to file frivolous lawsuits will be required to prepay the full filing fees.