Court Opinion

ID: 9610940
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 03:49:21.139526+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:03:07.140888
License: Public Domain

Banke, Judge,
concurring specially.
1. I am constrained to concur fully in the judgment and in the court’s opinion only because we are compelled to follow Howard v. Walker, 242 Ga. 406 (249 SE2d 45) (1978).
2. I find it difficult to believe the Supreme Court intended the dire consequences of its broad, sweeping language in Howard v. Walker, supra. The circumstances of some cases will render it impossible to have experts for both sides of an issue. Dr. Bondell, in this case, was a pathologist employed by Georgia Baptist Hospital to perform the autopsy. After the autopsy was performed and the deceased buried, an elementary question may be asked as to how the appellant could produce a contrary *301expert opinion as now required by Howard v. Walker, supra. Justice Jordan, in his dissenting opinion, joined by Presiding Justice Undercofler, in Howard v. Walker, supra, said "The majority opinion has confused an area of law which had become settled by a long line of cases.” While this area of law may have been confused by Howard v. Walker, supra, I think more importantly this decision frustrates the efforts of litigants who legitimately seek access to our courts. In my opinion whenever we favor one class of witnesses over another, our judicial system is in trouble. Following Howard, how soon will it be that we hear contentions that policemen or clergymen should be believed over common citizens? Hopefully, never. I do not believe that we discharge our constitutional duty fairly, or properly service our constituencies who depend on our guidance, when we favor one class of citizens over another. This is not equal justice under the law.