“[W]e have not relied on the minutes of the Constitutional Convention proceedings as indicative of the intent of the delegates. We have purposely refrained from using this basis of interpretation as excerpts from various portions of these minutes, among other things, can be used to support either position, or even a third position ....”
How later courts described this case
- “[W]e have not relied on the minutes of the Constitutional Convention proceedings as indicative of the intent of the delegates. We have purposely refrained from using this basis of interpretation as excerpts from various portions of these minutes, among other things, can be used to support either position, or even a third position ....”
- the intent of the framers “shall first be determined from the plain meaning of the words used”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
No. 13382
I N THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF M N A A
OTN
1976
ROBERT S . KETdLER,
P l a i n t i f f and P e t i t i o n e r ,
ETHYL SMITH, i n h e r c a p a c i t y a s C l e r k and
R e c o r d e r o f F l a t h e a d County, Montana,
Defendant and Respondent.
ORIGINAL PROCEEDING :
Counsel of Record:
For P e t i t i o n e r :
R o b e r t S. K e l l e r a r g u e d , K a l i s p e l l , Montana
F o r Respondent :
Hon. R o b e r t L. Woodahl, A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l , Helena,
Montana
W i l l i a m Anderson, A s s i s t a n t A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ,
a r g u e d , Helena, Montana
P a t r i c k S p r i n g e r , County A t t o r n e y , K a l i s p e l l ,
Montana
S t e w a r t P e a r c e , Deputy County A t t o r n e y , a p p e a r e d ,
Ka l i s p e l l , Montana
F o r Amicus C u r i a e :
D a n i e l J. Shea a r g u e d , M i s s o u l a , Montana
Submitted: August 1 0 , 1976
Filed :
s n 4rTf
Mr. J u s t i c e Frank I . H a s w e l l d e l i v e r e d t h e Opinion o f t h e C o u r t .
This i s an o r i g i n a l proceeding seeking a d e c l a r a t o r y
judgment from t h i s C o u r t on t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y of s e c t i o n s
23-4510.1 and 23-4510.2, R.C.M. 1947. These s t a t u t e s p r o v i d e
f o r a g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n b a l l o t on r e t e n t i o n o r r e j e c t i o n o f a l l
unopposed incumbent d i s t r i c t c o u r t judges and supreme c o u r t
j u s t i c e s seeking e l e c t i o n .
P e t i t i o n e r i s Robert S. K e l l e r , a v o t e r , r e s i d e n t and
t a x p a y e r of F l a t h e a d County, Montana. Defendants who have e n t e r e d
a p p e a r a n c e s h e r e a r e t h e Governor, S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e and C l e r k
and Recorder of F l a t h e a d County i n t h e i r o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t i e s .
Ex p a r t e p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e p e t i t i o n was made and t h i s
Court s e t t h e matter f o r adversary hearing. W granted leave t o
e
D a n i e l J. Shea, a r e g i s t e r e d v o t e r and t a x p a y e r of Missoula
County, Montana t o a p p e a r a s amicus c u r i a e ; o r d e r e d t h e Governor
and S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e j o i n e d a s a d d i t i o n a l d e f e n d a n t s ; and o r d e r -
ed n o t i c e t o be g i v e n t o t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l and t h e 56 c o u n t y
a t t o r n e y s i n Montana. B r i e f s were f i l e d and o r a l arguments h e a r d .
T h e r e a f t e r t h i s Court accepted o r i g i n a l j u r i s d i c t i o n of
t h i s p r o c e e d i n g ; o r d e r e d t h e p e t i t i o n amended; o r d e r e d a l l un-
opposed incumbent d i s t r i c t judges j o i n e d ; o r d e r e d s e r v i c e on a l l
t h e above p e r s o n s ; and o r d e r e d r e s p o n s i v e p l e a d i n g s t o be f i l e d
by a l l d e f e n d a n t s . Supplemental b r i e f s w e r e f i l e d and a d d i t i o n a l
o r a l argument p r e s e n t e d on b e h a l f of t h e p a r t i e s and amicus
curiae. A t t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e f i n a l h e a r i n g on August 1 0 ,
1976, t h e c a s e w a s t a k e n under advisement.
The i s s u e i s whether s e c t i o n s 23-4510.1 and 23-4510.2 are
u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a s a p p l i e d t o unopposed incumbent d i s t r i c t c o u r t
judges and supreme c o u r t j u s t i c e s r u n n i n g i n t h e g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n
who w e r e n o t o r i g i n a l l y a p p o i n t e d by t h e Governor t o f i l l v a c a n c i e s
and confirmed by t h e s t a t e s e n a t e .
The c r u x o f p e t i t i o n e r ' s argument i s t h a t A r t i c l e V I I ,
S e c t i o n 8 , 1972 Montana C o n s t i t u t i o n , p r o v i d i n g f o r r e t e n t i o n
o r r e j e c t i o n of unopposed incumbent j u d g e s and j u s t i c e s by t h e
v o t e r s i s c l e a r and unambiguous; t h a t it a p p l i e s o n l y t o unopposed
incumbent judges and j u s t i c e s o r i g i n a l l y s e l e c t e d by t h e Governor
t o f i l l v a c a n c i e s and s u b s e q u e n t l y confirmed by t h e s t a t e s e n a t e ;
and t h a t s e c t i o n s 23-4510.1 and 23-4510.2 a r e t h e r e f o r e unconsti-
t u t i o n a l . a s a p p l i e d t o unopposed incumbent judges and j u s t i c e s
n o t o r i g i n a l l y s e l e c t e d by t h e Governor and confirmed by t h e s t a t e
s e n a t e t o f i l l v a c a n c i e s by r e a s o n of A r t i c l e I V , S e c t i o n 5 , 1972
Montana C o n s t i t u t i o n , p r o v i d i n g t h a t t h e p e r s o n r e c e i v i n g t h e
l a r g e s t number of v o t e s s h a l l be d e c l a r e d e l e c t e d .
D e f e n d a n t s , on t h e o t h e r hand, c o n t e n d t h a t t h e l a n g u a g e
o f A r t i c l e V I I , S e c t i o n 8 , 1972 Montana C o n s t i t u t i o n , i s ambig-
uous; t h a t t h e meaning o f t h i s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n c a n be
a s c e r t a i n e d from t h e p r o c e e d i n g s a t t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a l Convention;
t h a t t h e s e p r o c e e d i n g s c l e a r l y show t h a t a s u b s t a n t i a l m a j o r i t y
of t h e d e l e g a t e s intended t o g i v e t h e v o t e r s an opportunity t o
measure a l l incumbent d i s t r i c t c o u r t j u d g e s and supreme c o u r t
j u s t i c e s a g a i n s t e i t h e r a c h a l l e n g e r o r t h e i r own j u d i c i a l r e c o r d ;
t h a t t h e presumption of c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y of s e c t i o n s 23-4510.1
and 23-4510.2 a p p l i e s ; and t h e r e f o r e t h e s e two s t a t u t e s a r e con-
s t i t u t i o n a l a s a p p l i e d t o a l l incumbent judges and j u s t i c e s
whether o r i g i n a l l y e l e c t e d o r a p p o i n t e d .
Amicus s u p p o r t s t h e d e f e n d a n t s ' p o s i t i o n and a d d i t i o n a l l y
p o i n t s o u t t h a t t h e l e g i s l a t u r e had no d i f f i c u l t y i n d e t e r m i n i n g
t h e meaning o f A r t i c l e V I I , S e c t i o n 8 , 1972 Montana C o n s t i t u t i o n ,
a s i n d i c a t e d by enactment o f s e c t i o n s 23-4510.1 and 23-4510.2;
and t h a t t h e r e i s no r a t i o n a l b a s i s f o r d i s t i n g u i s h i n g between
unopposed incumbent judges and j u s t i c e s i n i t i a l l y e l e c t e d and
those i n i t i a l l y appointed i n s o f a r a s subsequent e l e c t i o n s a r e
concerned.
The r e l e v a n t c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n s a r e :
A r t i c l e V I I , S e c t i o n 81 which p r o v i d e s :
"Selection. (1) The Governor s h a l l nominate a
r e p l a c e m e n t from nominees s e l e c t e d i n t h e manner
provided by law f o r any vacancy i n t h e o f f i c e o f
supreme c o u r t j u s t i c e o r d i s t r i c t c o u r t judge.
I f t h e g o v e r n o r f a i l s t o nominate w i t h i n t h i r t y
d a y s a f t e r r e c e i p t o f nominees, t h e c h i e f j u s t i c e
o r a c t i n g c h i e f j u s t i c e s h a l l make t h e nomination.
Each nomination s h a l l be confirmed by t h e s e n a t e ,
b u t a nomination made w h i l e t h e s e n a t e i s n o t i n
s e s s i o n s h a l l be e f f e c t i v e a s a n a p p o i n t m e n t
u n t i l t h e end of t h e n e x t s e s s i o n . I f t h e nomi-
n a t i o n i s n o t c o n f i r m e d , t h e o f f i c e s h a l l be
v a c a n t and a n o t h e r s e l e c t i o n and nomination s h a l l
be made.
" ( 2 ) I f , a t t h e f i r s t e l e c t i o n a f t e r s e n a t e con-
f i r m a t i o n , and a t t h e e l e c t i o n b e f o r e e a c h suc-
c e e d i n g t e r m of o f f i c e , any c a n d i d a t e o t h e r t h a n
t h e incumbent j u s t i c e o r d i s t r i c t judge f i l e s
f o r e l e c t i o n t o t h a t o f f i c e , t h e name of t h e
incumbent s h a l l be p l a c e d on t h e b a l l o t . I f
t h e r e i s no e l e c t i o n c o n t e s t f o r t h e o f f i c e , t h e
name of t h e incumbent s h a l l n e v e r t h e l e s s be
p l a c e d on t h e g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n b a l l o t t o a l l o w
v o t e r s o f t h e s t a t e o r d i s t r i c t t o approve o r
r e j e c t him. I f a n incumbent i s r e j e c t e d , a n o t h e r
s e l e c t i o n and nomination s h a l l be made.
" ( 3 ) I f a n incumbent d o e s n o t r u n , t h e r e s h a l l be
an e l e c t i o n f o r t h e o f f i c e . "
A r t i c l e I V , Section 5, provides:
"Result of e l e c t i o n s . I n a l l e l e c t i o n s h e l d by
t h e people, t h e person o r persons receiving t h e
l a r g e s t number o f v o t e s s h a l l be d e c l a r e d e l e c t e d . "
The s t a t u t e s a t t a c k e d i n t h i s c a s e were e n a c t e d by t h e
1973 L e g i s l a t u r e and p r o v i d e a s f o l l o w s :
"23-4510.1. Form o f b a l l o t on r e t e n t i o n of incumbent
supreme c o u r t j u s t i c e . I n t h e e v e n t t h e r e i s no
c a n d i d a t e f o r t h e o f f i c e o f supreme c o u r t j u s t i c e
o r c h i e f j u s t i c e o t h e r t h a n t h e incumbent, t h e name
of t h e incumbent s h a l l be p l a c e d on t h e o f f i c i a l
b a l l o t f o r t h e g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n as f o l l o w s :
" S h a l l ( c h i e f ) j u s t i c e ( h e r e t h e name of t h e incum-
b e n t j u s t i c e i s i n s e r t e d ) o f t h e supreme c o u r t of
t h e s t a t e o f Montana be r e t a i n e d i n o f f i c e f o r
a n o t h e r term?
" / YES
I' (Mark a n "x" b e f o r e t h e word "YES" i f you wish t h e
j u s t i c e t o remain i n o f f i c e . Mark a n " x u b e f o r e
t h e word "NO" i f you d o n o t w i s h t h e j u s t i c e t o
remain i n o f f i c e . ) "
"23-4510.2. Form of b a l l o t on r e t e n t i o n of incum-
b e n t d i s t r i c t c o u r t judge. I n t h e event t h e r e i s
no c a n d i d a t e f o r t h e o f f i c e o f d i s t r i c t c o u r t
judge i n a j u d i c i a l d i s t r i c t of t h e s t a t e o t h e r
t h a n t h e incumbent, t h e name o f t h e incumbent
s h a l l be p l a c e d on t h e o f f i c i a l b a l l o t f o r t h e
general e l e c t i o n a s follows:
" S h a l l judge ( h e r e t h e name o f t h e incumbent judge
of t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t i s i n s e r t e d ) of t h e d i s t r i c t
c o u r t of t h e j u d i c i a l d i s t r i c t of t h e
s t a t e of Montana be r e t a i n e d i n o f f i c e f o r a n o t h e r
t e r m i n off ice?
" /YES
"= NO
"(Mark a n "x" b e f o r e t h e word "YES" i f you w i s h
t h e judge t o remain i n o f f i c e . Mark a n " x u be-
f o r e t h e word "NO" i f you d o n o t w i s h t h e judge
t o remain i n o f f i c e . ) "
The c r u x o f t h e i s s u e b e f o r e u s i s t h e meaning o f t h e
second s e n t e n c e o f s u b d i v i s i o n ( 2 ) of A r t i c l e V I I , S e c t i o n 8 ,
1972 Montana C o n s t i t u t i o n . S p e c i f i c a l l y , d o e s it mean t h a t a l l
-
incumbent d i s t r i c t judges and supreme c o u r t j u s t i c e s who a r e
unopposed must r u n on a n a p p r o v a l o r r e j e c t i o n b a l l o t i n t h e
general election? O r d o e s it mean t h a t t h o s e incumbents i n i -
t i a l l y a p p o i n t e d by t h e Governor and s u b s e q u e n t l y confirmed by
t h e s t a t e s e n a t e must r u n on t h i s b a s i s ?
The same r u l e s o f c o n s t r u c t i o n a p p l y i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e
meaning of c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n s a s a p p l y t o s t a t u t o r y con-
struction. S t a t e ex r e l . Cashmore v . Anderson, 160 Mont. 1 7 5 ,
500 P.2d 921, c e r t . d e n . 410 U.S. 931, 93 S.Ct. 1372, 35 L Ed 2d
593; Vaughn & Ragsdale Co. v . S t a t e Board of Equal., 109 Mont.
52, 96 P.2d 4 2 0 ; S t a t e ex r e l . Dufresne v . L e s l i e , 100 Mont. 449,
50 P.2d 959; S t a t e ex r e l . Gleason v . S t e w a r t , 57 Mont. 397, 188
P. 904. I n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e meaning o f a g i v e n p r o v i s i o n , t h e
i n t e n t of t h e f r a m e r s i s c o n t r o l l i n g . S e c t i o n 93-401-16, R.C.M.
1947; S t a t e e x r e l . Cashmore v . Anderson, s u p r a . Such i n t e n t
s h a l l f i r s t be d e t e r m i n e d from t h e p l a i n meaning o f t h e words
u s e d , i f p o s s i b l e , and i f t h e i n t e n t c a n be s o d e t e r m i n e d , t h e
c o u r t s may n o t go f u r t h e r and a p p l y any o t h e r means of i n t e r -
pretation. Dunphy v . Anaconda Co., 1 5 1 Mont. 76, 4 3 8 P.2d 660,
and c a s e s c i t e d t h e r e i n .
Can t h e i n t e n t of t h e p r o v i s i o n be d e t e r m i n e d by t h e
p l a i n meaning of t h e words u s e d ? The second s e n t e n c e o f sub-
division (2) reads:
" * * * I f t h e r e i s no e l e c t i o n c o n t e s t f o r
t h e o f f i c e , t h e name o f t h e incumbent s h a l l
n e v e r t h e l e s s be p l a c e d on t h e g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n
b a l l o t t o a l l o w v o t e r s of t h e s t a t e o r d i s t r i c t
t o approve o r r e j e c t him. * * *"
The key word i s "incumbent". Is it u s e d i n t h e same
s e n s e t h a t i t i s used i n t h e p r e c e d i n g s e n t e n c e of t h e s u b d i v i s i o n
t o r e f e r t o a judge o r j u s t i c e a p p o i n t e d by t h e Governor t o f i l l
a vacancy and s u b s e q u e n t l y confirmed by t h e s t a t e s e n a t e --
-,
"If a t t h e f i r s t e l e c t i o n a f t e r s e n a t e c o n f i r m a t i o n , and a t t h e
e l e c t i o n b e f o r e e a c h s u c c e e d i n g t e r m o f o f f i c e , any c a n d i d a t e
o t h e r t h a n t h e incumbent j u s t i c e o r d i s t r i c t judge f i l e s f o r
e l e c t i o n t o t h a t o f f i c e , t h e name of t h e incumbent s h a l l be p l a c e d
on t h e b a l l o t* * *" and i n t h e f o l l o w i n g s e n t e n c e o f t h e sub-
division -- " * * * I f a n incumbent i s r e j e c t e d , a n o t h e r s e l e c t i o n
and nomination s h a l l be made." O r , on t h e o t h e r hand, i s it u s e d
t o r e f e r t o - incumbent i r r e s p e c t i v e of i n i t i a l e l e c t i o n o r
any
appointment? (Emphasis added.)
I n common u s a g e , t h e word "incumbent" means " a p e r s o n who i s
i n p r e s e n t p o s s e s s i o n of a n o f f i c e * * *." B l a c k ' s Law D i c t i o n a r y 4 t h
Ed. Rev. I t i s n o t l i m i t e d , q u a l i f i e d o r r e s t r i c t e d by t h e method
by which o n e a t t a i n e d t h e o f f i c e . Thus, i f t h e second s e n t e n c e
o f t h e s u b d i v i s i o n i s i s o l a t e d from t h e f i r s t and t h i r d s e n t e n c e s
o f t h e s u b d i v i s i o n , t h e l a n g u a g e c o u l d mean t h a t a l l incumbent
d i s t r i c t judges and supreme c o u r t j u s t i c e s who a r e unopposed
must r u n on a n a p p r o v a l o r r e j e c t i o n b a l l o t i n t h e g e n e r a l
election.
On t h e o t h e r hand, i f we c o n s t r u e t h e language i n t h e
c o n t e x t o f t h e e n t i r e s u b d i v i s i o n a c o n t r a r y r e s u l t c a n be
reached. The word "incumbent" i n t h e f i r s t o r p r e c e d i n g s e n t e n c e
o f t h e s u b d i v i s i o n c l e a r l y r e f e r s t o a n incumbent a p p o i n t e d by
t h e Governor t o f i l l a vacancy a s p r o v i d e d i n s u b d i v i s i o n (1)
b e c a u s e s u c h incumbent i s t h e o n l y incumbent s u b j e c t t o con-
f i r m a t i o n by t h e s t a t e s e n a t e . L i k e w i s e t h e t h i r d and f i n a l
s e n t e n c e o f s u b d i v i s i o n ( 2 ) c a n o n l y r e f e r t o a n incumbent ap-
p o i n t e d by t h e Governor t o f i l l a vacancy a s p r o v i d e d i n sub-
d i v i s i o n (1) b e c a u s e s u c h incumbent i s t h e o n l y r e j e c t e d incum-
b e n t f o r which a n o t h e r s e l e c t i o n and nomination i s p o s s i b l e .
Thus t h e word "incumbent" i n t h e second s e n t e n c e o f s u b d i v i s i o n
( 2 ) h a s t h e same meaning a s t h e word "incumbent" i n t h e o t h e r two
s e n t e n c e s of t h e s u b d i v i s i o n , and t h e l a n g u a g e means t h a t un-
opposed incumbent d i s t r i c t judges and supreme c o u r t j u s t i c e s
o r i g i n a l l y a p p o i n t e d by t h e Governor t o f i l l a vacancy a s p r o v i d e d
i n s u b s e c t i o n (1) must r u n i n t h e g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n on a n a p p r o v a l
or rejection ballot.
A c c o r d i n g l y , w e h o l d t h a t t h e l a n g u a g e of t h e second
s e n t e n c e o f s u b d i v i s i o n ( 2 ) , A r t i c l e V I I , S e c t i o n 8 , 1972 Montana
C o n s t i t u t i o n , i s ambiguous. A s t h e language i t s e l f i s n o t clear,
we must r e s o r t t o e x t r i n s i c r u l e s of c o n s t r u c t i o n .
P e r h a p s t h e b e s t i n d i c a t i o n of t h e i n t e n t of t h e f r a m e r s
i s found i n t h e e x p l a n a t o r y n o t e s a s p r e p a r e d by t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a l
Convention. These p r o v i d e i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t , f o l l o w i n g A r t i c l e
VII, S e c t i o n 8 , 1972 Montana C o n s t i t u t i o n :
"Convention Notes
" R e v i s e s 1889 c o n s t i t u t i o n * * * Contested e l e c t i o n
of judges is not changed, however if a judge
in office does not have an opponent in an election
his name will be put on the ballot anyway and the
people asked to approve or reject him * * *."
This expresses the intent of the delegates to the Constitutional
Convention and the meaning they attached to the new constitution
they framed and adopted. It plainly shows that the approval or
rejection ballot was intended to apply to any unopposed judge
in office.
Legislative determination of constitutional intent leads
us to the same construction. While such determination is not
binding on this Court, it is entitled to consideration. Here
the legislature had no difficulty in determining that the intent
Montana
of the framers of the 1972/C3onstitution was that all unopposed
incumbent judges and justices were subject to approval or re-
jection by the voters. The legislature subsequently enacted imple-
menting legislation to that effect, sections 23-4510.1 and 23-4510.2,
R.C.M. 1947. It is presumed that the legislature acted with
integrity and with an honest purpose to keep within constitutional
limits. Sutherland, Statutory Construction, 4th Ed., Vol. 2A,
Sec. 45.11, p. 33, and cases cited therein.
The principle of reasonableness in construction of an
ambiguous constitutional provision also aids us in determining
the intent of the framers here. This principle applies equally
to construing constitutional provisions or statutes and has been
defined and explained in these words:
"It has been called a golden rule of statutory
interpretation that unreasonableness of the
result produced by one among alternative possible
interpretations of a statute is reason for re-
jecting that interpretation in favor of another
which would produce a reasonable result. It is
said to be a 'well established principle of
statutory interpretation that the law favors
rational and sensible construction.'" Sutherland,
Statutory Construction, 4th Ed., Vol. 2A, Sec.
45.12, p. 37, and cases cited therein.
Montana has adopted this principle by statute, section 49-134,
R.C.M. 1947.
While w e d o n o t c o n s i d e r p e t i t i o n e r ' s contended con-
s t r u c t i o n w i l l l e a d t o " a b s u r d r e s u l t s " w i t h i n t h e meaning of
S t a t e ex r e l . Ronish v . Sch. ~ i s t No. 1, 136 Mont. 453, 348
.
P.2d 797, no r a t i o n a l b a s i s n o r r e a s o n h a s been s u g g e s t e d t o
u s and w e p e r c e i v e none f o r r e q u i r i n g unopposed incumbent
a p p o i n t e e s t o r u n on a n a p p r o v a l o r r e j e c t i o n b a s i s i n each
s u c c e e d i n g e l e c t i o n , w h i l e exempting o t h e r unopposed incumbent
judges o r j u s t i c e s from t h i s r e q u i r e m e n t . I n o u r view, s u c h a
construction leads t o an unreasonable r e s u l t , while t h e a l t e r n a -
t i v e c o n s t r u c t i o n simply promotes t h e d e s i r e o f t h e f r a m e r s t o
s u b j e c t a l l d i s t r i c t judges and supreme c o u r t j u s t i c e s t o a p p r o v a l
o r r e j e c t i o n by t h e v o t e r s whenever t h e y r u n unopposed.
Public Policy favors a l i k e construction. A recognized
a u t h o r i t y on s t a t u t o r y c o n s t r u c t i o n h a s used t h i s l a n g u a g e :
" S t a t u t e s r e g u l a t i n g t h e r i g h t s of c i t i z e n s t o
v o t e a r e of g r e a t p u b l i c i n t e r e s t and, t h e r e f o r e ,
a r e i n t e r p r e t e d w i t h a view t o s e c u r i n g f o r
c i t i z e n s t h e i r r i g h t t o v o t e and t o i n s u r e t h e
e l e c t i o n of t h o s e o f f i c e r s who a r e t h e p e o p l e ' s
choice." Sutherland, Statutory Construction, 4th
Ed., Vol. 3 , Sec. 71.15, p . 366, and c a s e s t h e r e i n
cited.
This Court has h e r e t o f o r e a p p l i e d t h i s p u b l i c p o l i c y i n favor
of t h e c i t i z e n ' s r i g h t t o v o t e i n c o n s t r u i n g a s t a t u t e p r o v i d -
ing f o r absentee b a l l o t s . Maddox v . Board o f S t a t e C a n v a s s e r s ,
116 Mont. 217, 149 P.2d 112. T h i s same p u b l i c p o l i c y a p p l i e s
with equal force i n construing subsection ( 2 ) , A r t i c l e V I I ,
S e c t i o n 8 , 1972 Montana C o n s t i t u t i o n .
For t h e f o r e g o i n g r e a s o n s , w e h o l d that t h e i n t e n t of
t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l d e l e g a t e s c o l l e c t i v e l y i n u s i n g t h e word
"incumbent" i n t h e second s e n t e n c e of s u b d i v i s i o n ( 2 ) , A r t i c l e
VII, S e c t i o n 8 , was t h a t i t a p p l y t o a l l unopposed d i s t r i c t
j u d g e s and supreme c o u r t j u s t i c e s i r r e s p e c t i v e of how t h e y
originally attained their judicial offices. W e therefore construe
t h e meaning of t h a t s u b d i v i s i o n t o r e q u i r e a l l unopposed d i s t r i c t
judges and supreme c o u r t j u s t i c e s r u n n i n g f o r e l e c t i o n o r r e -
e l e c t i o n t o be p l a c e d on t h e g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n b a l l o t t o a l l o w
v o t e r s o f t h e s t a t e o r d i s t r i c t , as t h e c a s e may b e , t o approve
o r r e j e c t him. A c c o r d i n g l y , w e h o l d s e c t i o n s 23-4510.1 and
23-4510.2, p r o v i d i n g f o r r e t e n t i o n o r r e j e c t i o n of s u c h j u s t i c e s
o r judges c o n s t i t u t i o n a l .
W e remark i n p a s s i n g t h a t w e have n o t r e l i e d on t h e
m i n u t e s o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a l Convention p r o c e e d i n g s a s i n d i c a -
t i v e of t h e i n t e n t of t h e d e l e g a t e s . W e have p u r p o s e l y r e f r a i n e d
from u s i n g t h i s b a s i s o f i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a s e x c e r p t s from v a r i o u s
p o r t i o n s o f t h e s e m i n u t e s , among o t h e r t h i n g s , c a n be used t o
s u p p o r t e i t h e r p o s i t i o n , o r even a t h i r d p o s i t i o n , i . e . t h a t t h e
d e l e g a t e s simply d i d n o t a d d r e s s t h e s p e c i f i c problem i n v o l v e d
i n t h i s case. I n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s , t h e c o l l e c t i v e i n t e n t of
t h e d e l e g a t e s c a n b e s t be d e t e r m i n e d by a p p l i c a t i o n of t h e p r e -
c e d i n g r u l e s of c o n s t r u c t i o n t o t h e ambiguous language used i n
s u b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) , A r t i c l e V I I , S e c t i o n 8, 1972 Montana C o n s t i t u t i o n ,
and approved by t h e d e l e g a t e s .
W e have c o n s i d e r e d t h e o t h e r arguments of r e l a t o r and
t h e o t h e r r u l e s of c o n s t r u c t i o n c i t e d . W e have d e t e r m i n e d t h a t
none would change o u r d e c i s i o n h e r e i n . To s e t e a c h f o r t h i n
d e t a i l h e r e i n would s e r v e no u s e f u l p u r p o s e . The a p p l i c a b l e
r u l e s and r e a s o n s f o r o u r d e c i s i o n a r e s e t f o r t h above.
T h i s o p i n i o n c o n s t i t u t e s a d e c l a r a t o r y judgment t h a t
s e c t i o n s 23-4510.1 and 23-4510.2, R.C.M. 1947, are c o n s t i t u t i o n a l
and a p p l y t o e v e r y unopposed incumbent d i s t r i c t judge o r supreme
c o u r t j u s t i c e running f o r e l e c t i o n o r r e - e l e c t i o n .
Justice
We concur:
Edward T. Dussault, District
, sitting in place of Mr.
Justice James T. Harrison.
Mr. Justice Wesley Castles:
I concur with the majority except that I do not view the
Legislative determination of constitutional intent as being
persuasive. Other than to indulge in the presumption of con-
stitutionality of legislation, I do not give great weight to
that principle.
Mr. Justice Gene B. Daly dissents and will file a written
dissent at a later date.