Court Opinion

ID: 9700488
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 21:32:08.506089+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:21:09.673535
License: Public Domain

VANDE WALLE, Chief Justice,
concurring specially.
I concur in the opinion written for the Court by Justice Meschke. I write separately to acknowledge that this construction of the veterans’ preference in personnel-system agencies may result in little more than the veteran being given a written explanation (“justifiable cause documented in writing for not making such appointment or employment”) as to why the veteran was not employed.
Because the object of the veterans’ preference statutes is obviously to give veterans a preferred status for employment purposes, it is tempting to accept Mr. Dyer’s argument that “justifiable cause” as used in this context means a physical or mental disability that renders the veteran unable to properly perform the prescribed duties for the position. However, as the majority opinion concludes, such an interpretation is contrary to the canons of statutory construction.
In the absence of a legislative definition of “justifiable cause,” and in view of the deference granted to agencies in personnel matters that do not involve suspect classifications, it appears that any realistic, non-frivolous reason for failing to employ the veteran may be “justifiable cause.” If our interpretation gleaned from the phrasing and structure of the statutes, is incorrect, or too broad, a legislative definition of the term “justifiable cause” would be appropriate.