Court Opinion

ID: 9709796
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 03:54:56.996947+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:51.528948
License: Public Domain

DeBRULER, Justice
concurring in result.
With regard to the last issue considered in the majority opinion, of paramount importance is a requirement that proper source material be placed before the judge from which he may derive and the lawyers may point out, the pertinent foreign law provisions. I think this can only be done in our state judicial system by placing the risk of non-availability of such source material upon the party who asserts an issue requiring consideration of foreign law, and to include dismissal or a finding against such party within that risk. Formal proof of the law is not necessary but at the same time need not be prohibited. Placing the source material before the court and asking that judicial notice be taken of the law within it is an appropriate process for getting this done. But, when foreign law, such as a city ordinance or code, state statute, or administrative rule or regulation, must be applied by the court to arrive at a true finding and is not present within the court's own resources, and the party stands mum, the court should be authorized to throw a claim or defense out.