Court Opinion

ID: 9671696
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 03:42:14.249752+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:11.597621
License: Public Domain

WUEST, Chief Justice
(dissenting).
I dissent.
As stated in the majority opinion, the party asserting a statute is unconstitutional bears the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt the statute violates the constitution and there is a strong presumption the laws enacted by the legislature are constitutional. The majority cites cases, O’Rourke (1893), supra; Jensen (1938), supra; and Board of County Commissioners (1928), supra, concerning the difference *292between proprietary and governmental functions.
In my opinion, such cases do not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the park immunity statutes are unconstitutional. Nor, does appellant cite any competent authority or reasons to overturn those statutes. Governmental and proprietary functions are judge-made law, and in my opinion the legislature may change them and grant immunity as they have done by enacting the park statutes. Further, Article III, § 27 of the South Dakota Constitution, provides: “The legislature shall direct by law in what manner and in what courts suit may be brought against the State.” That provision regulates sovereign immunity and any diminishment of it must come from the legislature. High-Grade Oil Co., Inc. v. Sommer, 295 N.W.2d 736 (S.D.1980); Conway v. Humbert, 82 S.D. 317, 145 N.W.2d 524 (1966).
I am authorized to state that Justice FOSHEIM joins in this dissent.