Court Opinion

ID: 9861225
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 23:49:43.649305+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:27:44.546317
License: Public Domain

UHLENHOPP, Justice
(dissenting).
When this case was initially presented to us as an original proceeding I voted against entertaining it on the ground that this court does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Section 4 of article V of the Iowa Constitution states that this court “shall exercise a supervisory and administrative control over all inferior Judicial tribunals throughout the State.” I was of the opinion that no “inferior Judicial tribunals” are involved here. Moreover, I thought that we are not asked to exercise “supervisory and administrative control” but rather, to decide a lawsuit.
I still believe we do not have jurisdiction, and I therefore do not reach the merits. 4 Am.Jur.2d Appeal and Error § 4, at 536 (1962) (“If the matter does not fall within the appellate jurisdiction, the appeal should be dismissed.... ”).
This contest can be commenced as an action in district court and the losers can then, if they wish, bring it here for review in the usual way under our appellate jurisdiction.
REYNOLDSON, C. J., joins this dissent.