Court Opinion

ID: 9758299
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 23:19:56.432787+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:49.110312
License: Public Domain

Jim Hannah, Chief Justice, dissenting. I must respectfully dissent. At issue is this court’s ongoing review and monitoring of the General Assembly’s actions undertaken to provide a constitutional system of free public schools. The court has ordered that “all acts of the General Assembly, promulgated regulations, relevant reports, and any other information relating to constitutional compliance” be provided to this court within thirty days. Obviously, the court is about to examine what the General Assembly did in the last legislative session. That is troubling. It is the acts of the General Assembly that are subject to judicial review, not the reports, rules, day-to-day activities, hearings, and other actions taken by the General Assembly. This court’s jurisdiction does not reach to supervising or overseeing the actions of the other branches of government. See Wells v. Riviere, 269 Ark. 156, 599 S.W.2d 375 (1980). That is precisely what this court has done and continues to do in this case. Judicial authority does not extend beyond interpretation. City of Hot Springs v. Creviston, 288 Ark. 286, 705 S.W.2d 415 (1986). This case is now four years old. Over the last four years, many opinions have been issued, and the basis for jurisdiction is hard to trace. However, it appears that the basis of the court’s action is simply that this court has decided that it will not let go until it is satisfied that an adequate school system has been provided by the General Assembly. As laudable as the goal may be, that is not a basis for jurisdiction. It is also hardly an efficient method to achieve the goal. As to actual jurisdiction, there is no decision by a lower court for us to consider at present, so there is no appellate jurisdiction. Gwin v. Daniels, 357 Ark. 623, 184 S.W.3d 28 (2004). There has been no attempt to invoke original jurisdiction. Thus, there is neither appellate nor original jurisdiction, and this court again1 acts without authority. I am also troubled by the majority’s assertions about the State Defendants’ failure to provide this court with various documents: It is clear to this court that the onus was placed on the State Defendants to cure the enumerated constitutional deficiencies. It further appears that a special session of the General Assembly was held in 2006 where action was taken and that, in addition, certain reports have been prepared regarding adequacy and facilities funding. Yet, nothing has been provided to this court concerning the action taken or how that action addressed this court’s constitutional concerns. Indeed, counsel for the State Defendants has made no effort to inform this court in that regard. The State Defendants bore no burden to provide documents and reports to this court, and in fact, the expectation expressed in the majority opinion will likely come as quite a surprise to the State Defendants. The majority also states: “We wish to emphasize that this court is not prejudging whether constitutional compliance has occurred or not. We simply have not been provided with the necessary information to make an informed determination.” An act of the General Assembly is in practicality prejudged because it is presumed constitutional. Davis v. Parham, 362 Ark. 352, 195 S.W.3d 911 (2005). Until an act of the General Assembly is properly challenged in a trial court, it is constitutional. This is not a new idea. See State v. Ashley, 1 Ark. 513 (1836). It appears that the majority is abandoning this doctrine and replacing it with a duty to prove that an act of the General Assembly is constitutional. Further, it appears that not only are acts of the General Assembly now subject to direct review in this court, but so are reports, rules, and other undetermined activities of the General Assembly. The General Assembly is a coordinate branch of government, and this court is without authority to invade the constitutional authority of the General Assembly. City of Piggott v. Eblen, 236 Ark. 390, 366 S.W.2d 192 (1963). The day-to-day activities, reports, hearings, rules, and documents generated by the General Assembly in fulfilling its constitutional duties are not subject to review by this court. The mandate should issue, and this case should be brought to a close. Gunter., J., joins.   See Lake View Sch. Dist. No. 25 v. Huckabee, 364 Ark. 398, 220 S.W.3d 648 (2005) (Hannah, C.J., dissenting).