Court Opinion

ID: 9824404
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 10:44:58.949189+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:39:45.106093
License: Public Domain

COLBERT, J.,
concurring specially with whom WATT, J. joins.
¶ 1 I concur in the majority’s analysis and decision finding that Claimant’s injuries are in the “course and scope of employment” as set forth in Title 85A, section 2(13) of the Oklahoma Statutes. I write separately, however, to express my concern in the majority’s continued sidestepping of constitutional challenges properly raised before this Court.
¶ 2 This Court held in Coates v. Fallin that constitutional challenges to the Administrative Worker’s Compensation Act (AWCA) would be assessed on an as applied basis. 2013 OK 108, 316 P.3d 924. Petitioner, here, challenged the constitutionality of the AWCA as a due process violation under Article 2 Section 6 of the Oklahoma Constitution. And, Petitioner specifically alleged that section 2(13)(a) and (e) of Title 85A violated her constitutionally protected right to a remedy *566and access to the courts. Yet, the majority's opinion makes no acknowledgment of Petitioner's claims.
T3 This Court must consider constitutional challenges that are adequately presented in the record. Dow Jones & Co., Inc. v. State ex rel, Okla, Tax Com'n, 1990 OK 6 1 6, 787 P.2d 848, 845, see also Okla. Stat. tit, 85A, § T8(C)(Gupp. 2014). But, rather than keeping with the assurance made in Coates v. Fallin, and our fundamental responsibility to support and obey the Constitution, this Court continues to dodge the inevitable.