Court Opinion

ID: 3875662
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 09:08:45.098582+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:41:44.397440
License: Public Domain

I concur in dismissing the appeal. In an ordinary case, when the defendant admits *Page 231 
the material allegations of the complaint and consents to the relief demanded, I think it would be error of law for the Circuit Court to put the parties to the expense of a reference, but no Court is bound to decree an act of the General Assembly unconstitutional and adjudge the rights of the parties accordingly, merely because the plaintiff has alleged and the defendant has admitted the unconstitutionality of the statute. Because of the public interest involved, it is a well recognized duty of courts not to declare a statute unconstitutional if the facts fairly admit of any other legal solution of the issues.
It was, therefore, within the discretion of the Circuit Court to order a reference to take the testimony, for it may appear from the facts that the question of the constitutionality of the statutes referred to in the complaint and answer is not necessarily involved in the decision of the case.