Court Opinion

ID: 9530009
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:56:18.73463+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:58.549834
License: Public Domain

Chief Justice TROUT,
specially concurring.
The Appellants complain that the trial court erred by failing to issue a writ of mandate ordering the BLRID to comply with election laws. The Court holds that because the trial court properly ordered a new election, the issue of whether the writ should have issued becomes moot. I disagree. Whether the trial court should have issued a writ of mandate requiring compliance with election laws does not become moot simply because a new election is ordered. The BLRID has a continuing obligation to comply with duties required by statute. Instead, a case becomes moot when “the issues presented are no longer live or the parties lack a legally cognizable interest in the outcome.” St. Alphonsus Reg’l Med. Ctr. v. Edmondson, 130 Idaho 108, 111, 937 P.2d 420, 423 (1997) (citations omitted). Here the issue is whether a writ of mandate is the only available remedy.
A court may issue a writ of mandate to compel a public officer to carry out a clearly mandated ministerial, but non-discretionary, act. See I.C. § 7-302; Edwards v. Industrial Comm’n, 130 Idaho 457, 459, 943 P.2d 47, 49 (1997). However, a writ of mandate is an extraordinary remedy and may only be is*144sued where no other adequate legal or equitable remedy exists. Edivards, 130 Idaho at 459-60, 943 P.2d at 49-50. Here the trial court refused to issue the writ because of the “lack of an immediate urgency or current crisis.” Instead, the trial court entered judgment effectively granting the relief Nelson requested. The amended judgment required the BLRID to (1) update its maps in compliance with I.C. § 34-301; (2) prepare an election handbook for use by election judges in compliance with I.C. §§ 34-1112, 34r-llll, 43-111, 43-113; and (3) prepare an accurate assessment book and other requirements listed in I.C. § 43-701. Consistent with the language of the statutes, the judgment ordered the BLRID to comply, not immediately, but on or before August 1 of each year.
Because the new election was properly ordered and conducted, there was no immediate need to force the BLRID to comply with the election laws. Consequently, the judgment provided a sufficient remedy.