Court Opinion

ID: 9775147
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 18:45:10.127975+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:21.082332
License: Public Domain

Tom Glaze, Justice, concurring. A. B. Allen complains that the court failed to address his equal protection argument. The majority opinion specifically restated Allen’s argument, stating, “Appellant contends that the provisions for removal and ineligibility established for municipal officers are unconstitutional because they deny to appellant the equal protection of the laws in that county officials are not subject to the same provisions.” The majority opinion then continued by addressing the rational basis aspect of Allen’s argument and explains away Allen’s assertion that there is no rational basis for the distinction drawn by certain constitutional and statutory provisions dealing with removal of city and county officials. I need not further readdress the majority opinion on this point. What I do mention is that Allen’s argument was wrong from its inception because he misidentified the classes. The charges against Allen centered on Ark. Code Ann. § 14-42-108 (1987), which makes it unlawful for a municipal official (1) to receive water, gas, or electric current without paying for it at the same rate as the general public, and (2) to furnish any person service from any public utility unless payment is made at the usual and regular rates. Only city officials violating these statutory provisions are subject to removal from office. Allen in no way contends that county officials engage in this same or similar conduct, namely, providing such utility services. In sum, I agree that Allen’s rehearing petition should be denied, and although I think his equal protection argument was sufficiently addressed by the majority court, I add only my above thoughts.