Court Opinion

ID: 9854751
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:13:20.628489+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:19.981387
License: Public Domain

Grice, Justice,
dissenting. The more I consider this matter the firmer is my belief that the petition here was subject to general demurrer. The statute relied upon (Ga. L. 1931, pp. 191, 194; Ga. L. 1937, pp. 753, 754; Code Ann. § 9-401) attempts to define the practice of law and, in my view, is therefore unconstitutional. The Constitution of this State declares that “The judicial powers of this State shall be vested in a Supreme Court, a Court of Appeals, Superior Courts . . . and such other Courts as have been or may be established by law.” Art. VI, Sec. I, Par. I (Code Ann. § 2-3601). Thus, the power to make this definition is vested exclusively in the judicial branch of our State government.
The statute cannot be sustained upon the ground that it is an effort by the legislature to aid the courts to perform their function. Our Constitution provides that “The legislative, judicial and executive powers shall forever remain separate and distinct . . .” Art. I, Sec. I, Par. XXIII (Code Ann. § 2-123).
I believe that we should decide the constitutional issue made here. Since the main portion of the Act is void for the reason given above, its proviso as to permitting certain acts by title insurance companies cannot be upheld. I would reverse on the main appeal.