Court Opinion

ID: 9607738
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 03:01:33.389099+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:39.817138
License: Public Domain

ON DENIAL OF PETITION FOR REHEARING
BISTLINE, Justice.
Defendant’s request for a rehearing is denied. Our previous opinion remains intact for the reasons discussed below.
In their brief in support of a petition for rehearing, defendants’ raise essentially one issue. They claim the district court erred in conducting a trial de novo of the issue of whether a bona fide state of financial crisis existed within the Cooperative Extension Service of the University’s College of Agriculture prior to the termination of Pace’s tenured position. Defendants contend, as they did in their appellate and trial briefs, that the district court was bound to apply the deferential standard of review mandated by I.C § 67-5215.
This contention is well wide of the mark, evidencing a misunderstanding of the fundamental nature of the proceeding here under review. Pace brought an original cause of action under 42 U.S.C. 1983, not a review of an administrative adjudication under I.C. § 67-5215. Therefore, I.C. § 67-5215 has no bearing on this case.
This issue was adequately addressed by the able trial judge upon his consideration of the application of I.C. § 67-5215 upon motions for summary judgment by both parties. Judge Schilling wrote:
*591Idaho Code, Section 67-5215(a) specifically provides that it “does not limit utilization of or the scope of judicial review available under other means of review, redress or relief provided by law.”
In the present case, the plaintiff has chosen to bring a cause of action seeking other means of review, redress, or relief. [42 U.S.C. 1983] The question then is not whether she proceeded with an appeal correctly under Idaho Code, Section 67-5215(b), but whether other means of review, redress or relief is provided by law.
The plaintiff followed the full course of the administrative procedure and received a final decision from an administrative body. At that point, she had the choice of proceeding with judicial review under the provisions of Idaho Code, Section 67-5215 or bringing a separate and original cause of action. She chose to do the latter, and, therefore, is not restricted by either the 30 day Statute of Limitation or the venue requirement contained in the statute, cf. Mills v. Swanson, 93 Idaho 279, 460 P.2d 704 (1969).
The propriety of the district judge’s actions is indicated by the case of Bignall v. North Idaho College, 538 F.2d 243, 248 (9th 1976). The plaintiff brought an action under 42 U.S.C. 1983 claiming that North Idaho College had denied Mrs. Bignall procedural and substantive due process when it declined to renew Mrs. Bignall’s teaching contract. The Bignalls’ allegations included, among others, a claim that the College violated its own tenure policy by not showing a “demonstrable financial exigency” when it terminated Mrs. Bignall. Id. at 245. When proceedings before the Board had fully concluded, and the instant case was filed and at issue, there was, as here, a de novo evidentiary trial. Id. at 248. Defendants did not question the propriety of the de novo hearing.
It is the role of courts, not administrative bodies, to adjudicate constitutional rights.
It should always be kept in mind that the evil of administrative action which must be guarded against is not the fact-finding power, but the conclusiveness of the fact-finding power coupled with the order based on the findings made which would deprive a person of a property right. Such is the full exercise of judicial power, and such power in this state can be exercised only by one of the enumerated courts. Local 1494 v. City of Coeur d’Alene, 99 Idaho 630, 636, 586 P.2d 1346, 1352 (1978) (citations omitted).
DONALDSON, C.J., HUNTLEY, J., and TOWLES, J. Pro Tern., concur.
SHEPARD, J., dissents, and would grant the petition for rehearing.