Court Opinion

ID: 9717215
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 07:00:17.017734+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:52.037878
License: Public Domain

PEDERSON, Justice,
concurring in part, dissenting in part.
I concur in the remand for further consideration by the State Personnel Board and in most of the law as explained by Chief Justice Erickstad. I do not agree that every member of every board or commission that performs quasi-judicial functions must independently examine every bit of evidence and consider every argument presented to a hearing officer, especially when the hearing officer’s recommendations are adopted.
The Kansas Appellate Court, in Matter of University of Kansas Faculty, 2 Kan.App.2d 416, 581 P.2d 817, 823 (1978) held:
*365“Where, as here, an administrative body acts in a quasi-judicial capacity, constitutional requirements of due process are applicable to proceedings had before it. [Cite omitted.] There is no claim that the procedure before the hearing officer was in any way defective. Nor is there a claim that the board could not decide the case without being present when the evidence was presented. Due process is not violated by such procedure provided the deciding authority considers and acts on the evidence received. [Cite omitted.] In apprising itself of the evidence, the deciding authority is not precluded from obtaining the aid of competent assistants who may sift and analyze the evidence. [Cite omitted.] Such a task is performed by the hearing officer under the board’s procedures. [Cite omitted.]”
In a California case where it was argued that “one who decides must hear” under the California Constitution, it was held:
“In this case, due process is supplied by the hearing officer’s taking of evidence, his findings and proposed decision, the decision of the board based on the findings and proposal, and by review by the court ... followed by this appeal.” Fichera v. State Personnel Board, 217 Cal.App.2d 613, 32 Cal.Rptr. 159, 162 (1963).
Ordinarily, board members are not subject to cross-examination as to the extent of their examination of the record'but, when the board is rejecting the hearing officer’s recommended decision, they must explain the grounds therefor. See 73A CJS Public Administrative Law and Procedure § 141; 2 Am.Jur.2d Administrative Law § 427 and following.
Perhaps our statutes and agency policies need some attention. Meaningless procedures and reviews do not promote employee-employer harmony.