Opinion

State Ex Rel. Swanson v. Strickland

  • 122 Fla. 784
  • 166 So. 313
Court
Supreme Court of Florida
Filed
Feb 18, 1936
Status
Published
Author
Brown
On the bench
Davis, Brown, Avhitfield, Terrell, Buford, Ellis
Cited by
3 cases
Authority
More cited than 37.8%

The opinion

Brown, J.

(dissenting). — I think the purpose of Section 21 of Article III as amended was to require absolute compliance therewith, and that no longer should any presumption of the sufficiency, or the publication, of the notice be indulged merely because the legislative journals recited that proof had been “established in the Legislature.”

It clearly makes the validity of special and local legislation dependent upon such compliance, which compliance must be shown by journal entries. Board of Public In

*792

struction v. Brown, 114 Fla. 711 , 154 So. 850 ; Milner v. Hatton, 100 Fla. 210 , 129 So. 593 . I do not think the journal entries in this case show a proper compliance with the constitutional requirements. Douglas v. Webber, 99 Fla. 755 , 128 Sou. 613 . There was a material difference between the bill as introduced and passed and the published notice as published. State,

ex rel.

Wilkinson, v. Allen, 219 Ala. 590 ; 123 So. 36 . Section 21 of Art. Ill, as amended in 1928, itself provides' how the evidence that such notice has been published shall be “established in the Legislature.” No discretion is left to the Legislature. It also expressly commands that the published notice “shall state the substance of the contemplated law.” One of the objects of the amendment of 1928 was to take from the Legislature the power of itself finally deciding the question as to whether the required notice had been published as required by the Constitution. The courts cannot escape the duty now imposed upon them.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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