Opinion ID: 1742573
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: presumptions favoring validity

Text: As a preface to our consideration of the constitutional issues, we point out that this Court is fully cognizant of, and in complete agreement with, the numerous longstanding and well-reasoned opinions dealing with the importance of upholding legislative acts as constitutional whenever possible. These propositions may be summarized as follows: (1) A Statute is presumed to be valid and the party challenging its constitutionality has the burden of establishing such invalidity. Mobile Housing Board v. Cross et al., 285 Ala. 94, 229 So.2d 485 (1969); Rogers et al. v. City of Mobile et al., 277 Ala. 261, 169 So.2d 282 (1964); Alabama State Federation of Labor et al. v. McAdory et al., 246 Ala. 1, 18 So.2d 810 (1944), County Board of Education of Jefferson County v. State ex rel. Carmichael, 237 Ala. 434, 187 So. 414 (1939). (2) A court should not strike down a statute as unconstitutional unless it is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that such statute is unconstitutional. Brittain v. Weatherly, 281 Ala. 683, 207 So.2d 667 (1968); State v. Mills, 278 Ala. 188, 176 So.2d 884 (1965); Al Means, Inc., et al. v. City of Montgomery et al., 268 Ala. 31, 104 So.2d 816 (1958); Taylor v. Johnson, 265 Ala. 541, 93 So.2d 143 (1957); James et al. v. Todd, 267 Ala. 495, 103 So.2d 19 (1957); Riley et al. v. Bradley, 252 Ala. 282, 41 So.2d 641 (1948); State ex rel. Wilkinson v. Murphy, 237 Ala. 332, 186 So. 487 (1939). These presumptions favoring validity, being fully indulged, must nonetheless give way where the legislative flaws make it judicially impossible for the act to conform to the requirements of our most revered polestar: constitutionality. See Jefferson County v. Busby, 226 Ala. 293, 148 So. 411 (1933); Ward v. State ex rel. Lea, 224 Ala. 242, 139 So. 416 (1932); Henry, County Treasurer v. Wilson, 224 Ala. 261, 139 So. 259 (1931).