Court Opinion

ID: 9846549
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 03:43:33.93019+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:37.838298
License: Public Domain

JOHNSON, Justice,
with TROUT, Justice, joining, concurring and concurring in the result in part III. A.
I concur in all of the Court’s opinion except part III. A. (The Idaho Marriage Certificate). In my view, the Court should premise this part of its decision on the lack of jurisdiction of our courts to correct records maintained by the vital records unit of the department of health and welfare (the unit) by a direct action.
I.C. § 39-250 provides the method of amending a certificate filed with the unit. If a person seeking amendment of a certificate is not satisfied with the action of the unit, the person may appeal “to a court of competent jurisdiction.” I.C. § 39-250(d). This case is not an appeal of an administrative decision of the unit. It is an original action to amend a marriage certificate maintained by the unit. In my view, it is not possible to circumvent the statutory process for seeking amendment and appealing an adverse decision of the unit by filing an action seeking amendment of a certificate.