Court Opinion

ID: 9544137
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:52:18.773707+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:12:04.348628
License: Public Domain

ERWIN, Justice
(concurring).
I concur with the opinion, but because of possible implications which arise from that portion of the opinion concerning the power of the legislature to enact procedures governing the appeal of administrative decisions to the superior court and the Supreme Court, I find additional clarification is required.
The quotation from Aleutian Homes v. Fischer1 that “where the legislature has established a specific procedure for review of administrative decisions . . . such procedure is controlling” must be interpreted in light of the fact that at the time of the Fischer decision there were no rules of court concerning the appeal of administrative decisions. Clearly, legislative enactment of procedural statutes would be permitted as a matter of comity2 where the Supreme Court of Alaska had not exercised its constitutional rule-making power in the area under section 15, article IV of the Alaska Constitution.3 However, in 1973 this Court adopted Appellate Rule 45 (i) which specifically provides:
These rules shall supersede all other procedural methods specified in Alaska statutes for appeals from administrative agencies to the courts of Alaska.
In Winegardner v. Greater Anchorage Area Borough,4 the Supreme Court noted that the adoption of Appellate Rule 45 was an expression of supremacy over procedural statutes and constituted the exercise of judicial power distributed to the Supreme Court under sections 1 and 15, article IV of the Alaska Constitution.5 Winegardner then determined that the grant of a jury trial on review of an assessment by the Greater Anchorage Area Borough as pro*1004vided by statute6 was a grant of a substantive right7 and thus did not constitute a violation of the doctrine of separation of powers as reflected in section 15 of article IV.
Therefore, while the legislature may grant substantive rights to litigants, it may not enact procedural statutes in the area of administrative appeals contrary to our Rules without complying with the constitutional requirements of section 15, article IV of the Alaska Constitution.8

. 418 P.2d 769, 773 (Alaska 1966) (footnote omitted).

. See State v. Scott, 387 S.W.2d 539, 543 (Mo.1965) ; Perin v. Peuler, 373 Mich. 531, 130 N.W.2d 4, 9-10 (1964) (Missouri and Michigan both have constitutional provisions similar to our section 15, article IV). See also Leege v. Martin, 379 P.2d 447, 449 (Alaska 1963).

. The supreme court shall make and promulgate rules governing the administration of all courts. It shall make and promulgate rules governing practice and procedure in civil and criminal eases in all courts. .

 534 P.2d 541 (Alaska 1975).

. Id. at 545.

. AS 29.52.140(f).

. 534 P.2d at 547-

.. These rules may be changed by the legislature by two-thirds vote of the members elected to each house.