Opinion ID: 2019452
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Necessity of a Trial for Adducing Further Evidence on Issue of Constitutionality.

Text: The learned trial court in its memorandum opinion cited Ritholz v. Johnson (1944), 244 Wis. 494, 12 N. W. (2d) 738, as authority for holding that evidence beyond the facts set forth in the affidavits should be required in passing upon the issue of constitutionality. The opinion in the Ritholz Case held that a court has not only the right but the duty to inform itself in some appropriate way in regard to the facts involved where the constitutionality of a statute has been challenged. It pointed out that a court might do this by resort to encyclopedias, authoritative works on the subject, reports of committees or scientific bodies, and any other source of information that is generally considered accurate and reliable, or it may resort to a judicial investigation of such facts. The court in that case determined that a judicial investigation to ascertain the facts surrounding the practice of optometry was preferable to that of proceeding by judicial notice. This was because the court stated it had no satisfactory method of informing itself as to such facts except by having evidence produced at trial and the trial court making findings of fact thereon. However, the court also took pains to point out that neither the trial court, nor it, would be bound by such findings in resolving the issue of constitutionality. Whether or not this court, when confronted with an issue of the constitutionality of a statute, will require a judicial investigation through trial of facts, or whether it will inform itself through independent research and the taking of judicial notice, is something that lies entirely within the court's sound discretion. In the recent case of White House Milk Co. v. Reynolds (1960), 12 Wis. (2d) 143, 106 N. W. (2d) 441, this court also exercised its discretion to have a judicial determination of facts made in a case presenting an issue of constitutionality of legislation. In the instant case we can see no necessity of having further evidence adduced at the trial court level. This court held in State ex rel. Carnation Milk Products Co. v. Emery (1922), 178 Wis. 147, 160, 189 N. W. 564, that if there is any reasonable basis upon which the legislation may constitutionally rest, the court must assume that the legislature had such facts in mind and passed the act pursuant thereto. Because the facts now before us afford a reasonable basis for the classification made by the legislature in exempting the plaintiff's property from taxation, the assembling of further facts by way of trial could serve no useful purpose. We hesitate to lay down any rule governing the exercise of discretion by trial courts, when confronted with an issue of constitutionality of a statute on demurrer or motion for summary judgment, in determining whether to direct that a judicial inquiry into the facts bearing on constitutionality be had by trial. In considering such a problem a trial court must keep in mind that it is better practice for it to assume the statute is constitutional until the appellate court has passed upon it except where unconstitutionality is apparent beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Stehlek (1953), 262 Wis. 642, 645, 56 N. W. (2d) 514. By the Court. The order denying summary judgment is reversed, with directions to enter judgment as prayed for in plaintiff's three complaints. In taxing costs the plaintiff may include costs for printing its entire brief although the same exceeds 50 pages.