Skogerson v. McConnell

PER CURIAM. Skogerson sued the McConnells in small claims court and received a judgment against them. The McConnells decided to appeal to district court where they were entitled to receive a trial de novo. I.R.C.P. 81(n). Unable because of indigency to post the cash appeal bonds required by I.C. §§ 1-2311 and -2312 and I.R.C.P. 81(7), they moved the district court for an order waiving prepayment of fees, costs and security pursuant to I.C. § 31-3220. The district court denied the motion, reasoning that to grant the motion would be in excess [864] of its jurisdiction, under I.R.C.P. 81(7) which provides that posting of security for appeal is jurisdictional. Moving for reconsideration, the McConnells contended that requiring security for such an appeal was a denial of due process. The district court adhered to its ruling and the McConnells appealed to this Court, continuing their argument that the appeal bond requirements of I.C. §§ 1-2311 and —2312 and I.R.C.P. 81(7) violate their constitutional rights to due process. Based on our recent decision in the case of Frizzell v. Swafford, 663 P.2d 1125, we agree.1 The judgment of the district court is reversed, and the district court is directed to pass upon the McConnells’ claim of indigency and proceed in accordance with our opinion in Frizzell v. Swafford, supra. Costs to appellants. Footnotes [1] Additionally, the McConnells challenge the district court’s refusal to rule upon their constitutional attack. In its memorandum decision denying the motion for reconsideration, the district court had held that “until the requirements of I.R.C.P. 81(7) are met, the district court does not have jurisdiction to make any determination of any issues that may be raised upon appeal in small claims matters.” R. at 12. (Emphasis added.) The district court has inherent power to pass upon its own jurisdiction. Robinson v. Robinson, 70 Idaho 122, 128, 212 P.2d 1031, 1034 (1949); Haines v. State Insurance Fund, 65 Idaho 450, 456, 145 P.2d 833, 835-36 (1944), and such necessarily entails the power to pass upon the constitutionality of statutes or court rules purporting to limit that jurisdiction. The California Supreme Court in a remarkably similar case, Mendoza v. Small Claims Court, 49 Cal.2d 668, 321 P.2d 9, 10 (Cal.1958), was succinct and to the point: “If a statute on which a court’s jurisdiction in a proceeding depends is unconstitutional, the court has no jurisdiction in the proceeding and since it may determine whether or not it has jurisdiction, it necessarily follows that it may inquire into the constitutionality of the statute .... ” (Citations omitted.) Thus, the district court did have jurisdiction to pass upon the constitutionality of I.C. §§ 1-2311 and -2312 and I.R.C.P. 81(7).