Court Opinion

ID: 9845609
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 03:25:07.646894+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:16:16.073631
License: Public Domain

TOWLES, Justice Pro Tem.,
specially concurring.
I concur in the result reached and in the majority’s view that jurors are covered by the Workers’ Compensation Act for injuries suffered while in jury service under the definition in I.C. § 72-205(2). However, it would be my view that I.C. § 72-205(1) also affords coverage, as certainly jurors are appointed officials of the county while in such service.
As a former trial judge of this state, I confess that it has always been my belief that jurors were so covered, and if so asked by a juror, would have advised them accordingly. The tremendous responsibility thrust upon jurors as a result of such public service qualifies them as public officials of the highest order and no less important to the success of the judicial system than are the judges, clerks, bailiffs, court reporters, and other full time employees of the state or county.
BAKES, Chief Justice, concurring in result:
I concur with the Court’s conclusion that I.C. § 72-205(2)9 provides that county jury service is covered employment under the Worker’s Compensation Act. When subsection (2) is construed liberally in favor of coverage, as this Court’s cases say we must construe it, see Norton v. Dept. of Employment, 94 Idaho 924, 500 P.2d 825 (1972); State v. Alkire, 79 Idaho 334, 317 P.2d 341 (1957); Wright v. Village of Wilder, 63 Idaho 122, 117 P.2d 1002 (1941), the subsection covers persons serving on county juries.
I believe that the Idaho statute is distinguishable from the statutes in other states. I.C. § 72-205(2) covers “persons in the service of a county” and does not require that such a person in the service of a county be an employee serving pursuant to a contract of employment, as is apparently required of service under subsection (1) of 72-205. While subsections (1) and (2) of 72-205 are somewhat overlapping and redundant, to incorporate the requirement in subsection (1) of service under a contract of hire into subsection (2) would make the two sections totally redundant. For whatever reasons, the legislature, in drafting subsection (2), did not require that “person[s] in the service of a county” must be performing that service “under any contract of hire, express or implied,” as is required in subsection (1). Accordingly, I concur in the Court’s conclusion that county jury service is subject to the provisions of the worker’s compensation laws.
JOHNSON, J., concurs.

. 72-205. Public employment generally — Coverage. — The following shall constitute employees in public employment and their employers subject to the provisions of this law:
(1) Every person in the service of the state or of any political subdivision thereof, under any contract of hire, express or implied, and every official or officer thereof, whether elected or appointed, while performing his official duties, except officials of athletic contests involving secondary schools, as defined by section 33-119, Idaho Code.
(2) Every person in the service of a county, city, or any political subdivision thereof, or of any municipal corporation.