Court Opinion

ID: 9544337
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:54:50.632026+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:12:47.939519
License: Public Domain

NIX, Chief Justice,
concurring.
I join the opinion of the majority. I do, however, wish to note that I appreciate the concern of the concurring justices. Mr. Justice Flaherty is unquestionably correct in concluding that the right of access represents a fundamental right and that its denial should require the application of the “heightened scrutiny” standard of review. Whether every limitation upon that right is to be accorded the same status as an absolute denial of access or where to draw the line pose much more difficult questions. In this matter, the question fortunately is academic because, under either standard, the result is the same.
Suffice it to say that, in my judgment, not all legislative restrictions which impact upon access to the courts will require the “heightened scrutiny” analysis. See, e.g., Kras *141v. United States, 409 U.S. 434, 93 S.Ct. 631, 34 L.Ed.2d 626 (1973). Moreover, I do not understand the majority to disagree with this view.