Court Opinion

ID: 9776998
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 19:51:02.379112+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:46.044082
License: Public Domain

David Newbern, Justice, concurring. The problem in this case, I think, is that the UCA firearms policy is offended by “possession” of a firearm without knowledge. The Student Judicial Board found Ms. Denton not guilty because she had no knowledge the pistol was in her car. Dr. Smith testified the school policy was violated regardless of knowledge. The Chancellor apparently gagged on that point and declared the policy to be in violation of Ms. Denton’s right to substantive due process. While I agree UCA violated its own procedures somewhat, I also agree with the dissenting opinion’s point that we seem to be stretching to decide the case on that basis. The dissenting opinion seems equally extended, however, in its apparent conclusion that the evidence is sufficient to show Ms. Denton knew of the presence of the pistol in her car because it was in a book bag which was not pushed under the seat. I know of no evidence that the book bag was transparent or that anyone told her the pistol was in it. I dare say that had the contraband been drugs we would not have found the evidence of the presence of it in Ms. Denton’s car satisfied the constructive possession factors required to hold her in “possession.” See Mings v. State, 318 Ark. 201, 884 S.W.2d 596 (1994). Those factors all point to whether the accused had knowledge of the presence of the contraband. Substantive due process requires that legislation be rationally related to achieving a legitimate governmental purpose. See Winters v. State, 301 Ark. 127, 782 S.W.2d 566 (1990). No doubt UCA had a legitimate governmental purpose for its policy, and the zeal with which the administration sought to implement it is laudable up to a point. A policy which can be the basis of punishment of one who is the victim of circumstances created by others without her knowledge can also be said to be related to that purpose. It could place even the most innocent student in fear of being punished and thus perhaps serve the purpose. Such a policy is, however, in my view, irrational and unfair to the point that it cannot be said to be rationally related to anything. The Chancellor got this case right. I concur in the result reached by the majority opinion.