Court Opinion

ID: 9618001
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 05:05:05.36489+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:04:22.174736
License: Public Domain

GREENWOOD, Judge,
concurring:
I concur, but write to clarify my basis for doing so. I am in agreement with the analysis contained in the dissenting opinion of Justice Durham and Chief Justice Zimmerman in Salt Lake City v. Ohms, 881 P.2d 844, 855 (Utah 1994), regarding the constitutionality of section 78-8-31(6) of the Utah Code. So long as Utah’s judicial branch has control over judicial functions thus exclusively controlling “judicial power,” I believe the constitution is satisfied. In addition, in my view the result arrived at by the majority in Ohms is unwarranted by either constitutional provisions or relevant case law.
Furthermore, given the ever-expanding case load in Utah’s courts, the commissioner system provides needed flexibility to manage our dockets efficiently and effectively within the jurisdiction and authority of the judiciary. Absent the Ohms majority opinion, I would conclude that the statute is constitutional and affirm Taysom’s conviction. I therefore concur reluctantly in the majority opinion in this case.