Opinion ID: 2184643
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: JurisdictionSeparation of Powers

Text: Although this issue is not properly preserved for appellate review, this Court will consider the arguments presented. We acknowledge that the legislature, pursuant to the constitution, has express power to determine the original jurisdiction of circuit and district courts. Ky. Const. §§ 112(5) and 113(6). See also KRS 23A.010. When the legislature does not specifically assign jurisdiction of a particular matter to the district court, jurisdiction rests in the circuit court. The General Assembly has enacted the declaratory judgment statute, KRS 418.040 et seq., which has been held constitutional by this Court in Black v. Elkhorn Coal Corp., 233 Ky. 588, 26 S.W.2d 481 (1930). It has also enacted the habeas corpus statutes encompassed in KRS 419.020 et seq. and the shock probation statutes in KRS 439.265 to 267. The latter statutes have been held to be constitutional in Commonwealth v. Williamson, Ky., 492 S.W.2d 874 (1973). See also Commonwealth v. Gross, Ky., 936 S.W.2d 85, 87 (1996). This Court has recognized the authority of the legislature to enact statutes regarding the jurisdiction of the court. See Kuprion v. Fitzgerald, Ky., 888 S.W.2d 679 (1994); McElroy v. Taylor, Ky., 977 S.W.2d 929 (1998). Here, the legislature assigned to the circuit courts the duty of conducting classification hearings in connection with a legislative act requiring assessment for the purpose of community notice.