Nephi Irrigation Co. v. Jenkins

Utah Supreme Court
Nephi Irrigation Co. v. Jenkins, 8 Utah 452 (Utah 1893)
Blackbuiin, Hearing

Nephi Irrigation Co. v. Jenkins

Opinion of the Court

Per Curiam:

This case was submitted to the court on briefs, Chief Justice ZaNE presiding, who, together with Justices Miner and Anderson, constituted the court at the time of such submission. Justice BlaoKburn having tried the case below, did not sit in this case. Chief Justice Zane rendered the opinion of the court, Justice Miner concurring. The opinion was handed down at a time when Chief Justice Zane and Justices Miner and BlaoKburn were sitting as a court, and constituting a quorum thereof. The objection is made that Justice Blaciiburn would not count as a member of the court, so as to constitute a quorum when the decision was rendered. “The supreme court consists of a chief justice and three associate justices, any three of whom shall constitute a quorum; but no justice shall act as a member of the supreme court in any action or proceeding brought to such court by writ of error, bill of exceptions, or appeal from a decision, judgment, or decree rendered by him as a judge of the district court.” 25 IJ. S. St. at Large, p. 203. Under this act any three of the justices constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and a justice who tried the case below may sit *454for the purpose of making a quorum, but such justice cannot act or participate in such proceeding. This must have been the intention of congress in passing this act; any other construction would render the court powerless to act in many cases brought before it. Under the contention claimed by respondent the sickness or absence of one of the justices would render it impossible to obtain a quorum so as to transact business, although it would be competent for two concurring justices, when three constitute a quorum, to render an opinion. If the disqualified justice cannot constitute one of the quorum ■ without acting, the two remaining justices would be powerless to act. The motion to recall remittitur is denied.

BlacKbuiiN, J., did not sit in this hearing.

Reference

Full Case Name
NEPHI IRRIGATION COMPANY v. RICHARD JENKINS, and Another
Cited By
1 case
Status
Published