Court Opinion

ID: 9643121
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 20:20:06.210693+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:57.643704
License: Public Domain

STEPHENS, Chief Justice.
Respectfully, I must dissent.
The majority’s interpretation of Ex Parte Auditor of Public Accounts, Ky., 609 S.W.2d 682 (1980), and Ex Parte Farley, Ky., 570 S.W.2d 617 (1978) is much too narrow. It limits the original jurisdiction of this Court to only those circumstances “where no other court has power to proceed.” The majority takes this approach by suggesting this Court’s exercise of jurisdiction in Ex Parte Auditor of Public Accounts was based solely upon the fact that “this court is [the] only forum in which the controversy [could] be heard and officially resolved.” 609 S.W.2d at 683. The majority concluded this by stating that the decision in Ex Parte Auditor of Public Accounts relied upon Ex Parte Farley. Thus, when these two decisions are read together, a principle arises that the original jurisdiction of this Court can only be exercised where no other Court has power to proceed.
While both of these cases address the question of original jurisdiction, I find nothing in Ex Parte Auditor of Public Accounts that suggests its holding limits the exercise of original jurisdiction by this Court to only fact situations similar to those in that case in which this Court can provide the only forum for relief. The principles that arise in these cases are separate and distinct. “First, the Supreme Court has a basis of original jurisdiction by virtue of ... Section 110(2)(a).” With this statement by the majority, I do agree. However, the second principle is that original jurisdiction may be exercised in cases where no other court has power to proceed.
This Court should not neglect to recognize other situations where original jurisdiction may be invoked by this Court, namely where it is necessary “to assure to the best of its ability the orderly and effective administration of justice in this jurisdiction.” Ex Parte Farley, 570 S.W.2d 617, 621 (1978) (citing In Re Appointment of Clerk of Court of Appeals, Ky., 297 S.W.2d 764, 765 (1957). This case involves an administrative action taken by a lower Court’s judge. Because this is an administrative issue, this Court inherently has the authority to exercise jurisdiction to ensure the proper actions are being taken.
STUMBO, J., joins in this dissenting opinion.