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Price v. The State

Supreme Court of Georgia1947-05-13No. No. 15780
202 Ga. 205

Summary

Holding. The court transferred the case to the Court of Appeals because the record did not properly present any justiciable constitutional question, as Price failed to clearly specify how any constitutional provision was violated by the statute.

Price challenged the admission of testimony regarding the general reputation of a house where the accused was living, arguing the evidence violated state constitutional and statutory provisions on character evidence. Price contended that the 1943 Act authorizing such reputation evidence was unconstitutional because it conflicted with existing general laws governing character and reputation evidence, and because it violated constitutional requirements regarding amendment of statutes and uniformity of laws across the state.

The court established that to properly raise a constitutional challenge to a statute, a party must clearly identify both the statute being challenged and the specific constitutional provision allegedly violated, and must demonstrate how the statute actually breaches that constitutional provision. The court found that Price's challenge failed to meet this standard because the record did not adequately show which constitutional provision was violated or how the statute conflicted with it.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Requirements for raising a constitutional challenge to a statute
  • Admissibility of testimony regarding general reputation of a residence
  • Conflict between 1943 Act and existing character evidence statutes
  • Constitutional requirements for statute amendment and uniform operation

Procedural posture

The case was transferred from the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court based on an assertion that constitutional questions had been raised, and Price sought a new trial through a special motion raising constitutional objections to admitted evidence.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

majority opinion

Wyatt, Justice-.

This is a companion ease to Stone v. State, ante, both cases having been transferred to this court by the Court of Appeals on the theory that questions as to the constitutionality of a statute had been raised. The two eases were tried separately; and whereas in the Stone case no attempt was made to raise a constitutional question on the trial of the case, in the instant case there was an attempt to draw in question the constitutionality of a statute by objections, made on the trial, to certain evidence. Two special grounds of the-motion for new trial deal with constitutional questions. Both complain of the admission of similar evidence, the general reputation of a house; and both seek to raise the same constitutional questions in a similar manner. For these reasons reference to one ground only will suffice for the ruling here made. This special ground is as follows: A witness “for the State was allowed to testify on direct examination . . as follows: T have heard of the general reputation of the house in which she (Mrs. Price) is now living for lewdness. I know what the community generally says about this house. The reputation is bad, all I have ever heard.’ At the time each of said witnesses was asked the question as to the reputation of accused’s house, movant objected on the ground that this testimony was irrelevant, inadmissible, and prejudicial. . . Movant also urged that the Acts of 1943, pages 568, 571, codified as section 26-6206 of the Code, was unconstitutional and void because it violated sections 2-1817 and 2-401 of the Code of 1933, and also was in violation of section 38-202 of the Code, which makes the general character and reputation of parties inadmissible, unless the nature of the action involves such character and makes such proof of it necessary and admissible. Movant contended that the Acts of 1943, aforesaid, offended par. 17, art. 3, of the Constitution, which provides that no section of the Code or act shall be amended by mere reference to its title or the number of the section of the Code. Also because said act offended the constitutional provision that laws of a general nature shall have uniform operation throughout the State, and no special law shall be passed when an existing general law is in operation and making provision for the subject matter in the special law.” Held:

1. “In order to raise a question as to the constitutionality of a ‘law’ (Code, § 2-3005), the statute which the party challenges, and the provision of the Constitution alleged to have been violated, must both be clearly specified, and it must also be shown wherein the statute violates such constitutional provision. . . Since a statute is presumed to be valid and constitutional until the contrary appears, and can not be lawfully set aside by the courts unless the alleged conflict with the constitution is plain and palpable, the burden is upon any party who assails it to present his attack in clear and definite terms, in order to call forth judicial action concerning it. In so grave or important a matter as declaring invalid an act of a co-ordinate department -of government, the courts will not act upon vague and uncertain charges, and should decline to do so unless and until a clear and specific contention or question is presented for determination.” Abel v. State, 190 Ga. 651 (10 S. E. 2d, 198), and cit.

No. 15780.

May 13, 1947.

Thomas A. Jacobs Jr., for plaintiff in error.

O. J. Long, Solicitor, contra.

2. The record in the instant case not properly presenting for decision any question as to the constitutionality of a statute, in that there is a failure to show wherein any provision of the Constitution has been violated, and the case not being one which otherwise comes within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, it is

Transferred to the Court of Appeals.

All the Justices concur.