KELLER v SMITH

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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: Filed : s n 4rTf August 1 0 , 1976 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 unopposed 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 ambiguous; 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 nomin 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 conf 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 succ 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 incumb 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? " I' / YES (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 incumb 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 bef 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 construction. 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 . 593; Vaughn & 410 U.S. 931, 93 S.Ct. 1372, 35 L Ed 2d 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 Dunphy v . Anaconda Co., 1 5 1 Mont. 76, 4 3 8 P.2d 660, pretation. 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 * * *" 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-- " * * * 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 on t h e b a l l o t division 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 Ed. Rev. * * *." B l a c k ' s Law D i c t i o n a r y 4 t h 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 conf 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 app 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 subd 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 incumb 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 unopposed 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. VII, 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 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 rejection 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 rejecting 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. 23-4510.2, 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 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.

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