Court Opinion

ID: 9743503
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 21:35:02.000301+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:41.664842
License: Public Domain

On Petition For Rehearing
Arterburn, C. J.
The appellant has filed a petition for rehearing herein, questioning the constitutional right of this Court to render a 2-1 opinion. In this case Judges Rakestraw and Achor did not participate, leaving Judges Jackson, Myers and Arterburn as the participating judges. Judge Jackson dissented, and it necessarily follows that Judges Arterburn and Myers concurred in the opinion.
The Constitution of Indiana, Art. 7, Sec. 2, reads as follows:
“The Supreme Court shall consist of not less than three, nor more than five judges; a majority of whom shall form a quorum. They shall hold their offices for six years, if they so long behave well.”
It is to be noted that a majority of the Judges of the Court, which would be three in the present instance, may constitute a quorum. A quorum is defined as the number of persons that are members of a body when assembled who are legally competent to transact the business of such a body. Normally, without the constitutional provision, a majority is considered a quorum at common law. The Constitution could have fixed a different number, but did not. Three members of this Court, under the Constitution as well as at common law, constitute a quorum to do business. This Court, when so constituted, may render a 2-1 decision.
Black’s Law Dictionary, Fourth Edition.
For the reasons stated, the petition for rehearing is denied.
*29Note.—Reported in 220 N. E. 2d 340; Rehearing denied in 221 N. E. 2d 814.