Court Opinion

ID: 9616133
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 04:43:47.807689+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:03:55.319527
License: Public Domain

CROCKETT, Justice:
(dissenting).
I adhere to my belief that the prior decision issued before the rehearing was granted is correct, 18 Utah 2d 45, 414 P.2d 963. Because of this, there is a temptation to reiterate the discussion of each of the points and the basis upon which the majority of *279the court as then constituted reached the opposite conclusions sustaining the judgment of the trial court. However, inasmuch as the majority of this court as now constituted rules to the contrary, it would serve no useful purpose for me to further extenuate upon the matter, and I therefore spare this opinion from such repetition and refer to the discussion in the prior opinion, adding only the following observations:
■ First, it impresses me as being unnecessary to declare the act unconstitutional when the dispute between the parties could be adjudicated and the defendant’s position justified on other grounds stated in the court’s opinion, Heathman v. Giles, 13 Utah 2d 368, 374 P.2d 839.
The second concerns another proposition equally well established: In the prior decision the majority of the court gave what we considered to be proper deference to the legislative prerogative by indulging the usual presumption in favor of the validity of legislative acts to the end that they should be so construed as to make them operable and constitutional whenever that reasonably can be done. See prior decision referred to above and authorities therein cited. It seems to me that this is the point of divergence between the respective opinions, that the prior opinion follows the course just stated, while the instant majority opinion rather inclines to the contrary.
As was conceded in the prior opinion this act is certainly not without its frailties. It is the writer’s impression that they may have resulted from legislative compromise and amendment. Nevertheless, when the practicalities are considered there probably should be no lamentation about the matter. It is apparent that to proceed further with the project there would have to be a new appropriation by the legislature anyway. Therefore, the whole situation will undoubtedly be given further consideration by a newly elected and somewhat differently constituted legislature which is to meet next month. If it is to be carried forward it would undoubtedly be wise, and helpful to those charged with that responsibility, that there be some clarification of the act.