State v. Digman, 44250

Decision Date20 March 1974
Docket NumberNo. 44250,44250
Citation294 So.2d 325
PartiesThe STATE of Florida, Appellant, v. Larry Richard DIGMAN, Appellee.
CourtFlorida Supreme Court

Robert L. Shevin, Atty. Gen., Richard E. Gerstein, State's Atty. and Joseph Durant, Chief Asst. State's Atty., for appellant.

Phillip A. Hubbart, Public Defender, and Roy S. Wood, Jr., Asst. Public Defender, for appellee.

DEKLE, Justice.

This cause presents yet again the issue of the constitutional validity of Ch. 57--550, Laws of Florida 1957, relating to grand juries. 1 The trial court expressly held this statute to be void and of no effect, thus giving rise to a direct appeal to this Court. 2 Art. V, § 3(b)(1), Fla.Const., F.S.A.

Appellee was indicted by a grand jury drawn pursuant to Ch. 57--550 as amended. The method of grand jury selection provided by this act differs from that provided by F.S. § 905.01(1), F.S.A. (which incorporates F.S. Ch. 40, F.S.A.), which statute would control absent Ch. 57--550. Thus, if Ch. 57--550 is void, as was held below, the grand jury which indicted appellant was improperly drawn.

The instant cause presents a different attack on the validity of the act not previously considered, namely, that later amendments to the act converted it into an invalid special act or, alternatively, invalidly attempted to make it an ordinance of Dade County. This attack, like its predecessors, fails.

Briefly, Ch. 57--550 created a 10-member Grand Jury Commission for all counties of more than 450,000 population, provided for qualifications of grand jurors, and set out the method of their selection. Ch. 71--29, Laws of Florida 1971, repealed a vast number of general laws of local application, Ch. 57--550 being named within Ch. 71--29, but § 3(1) of this act providing that such repealed acts 'relating to courts' were to become general laws of the state. Of course the grand jury 'relates to courts,' in fact is an 'arm of the court.' Section 3(2) provided that the repealed laws affecting a particular county or counties should become ordinances of the affected counties. On Oct. 1, 1972, present § 905.01(1) was enacted, providing that the provisions governing the drawing, summoning and procurement of petit jurors would apply to grand jurors.

Grand juries have historically been considered to be arms of the courts; they not only relate to courts, but are inextricably bound up with them. State ex. rel. Worthington v. Cannon, 181 So.2d 346 (Fla.1966); State ex rel. Gerstein v. Baker, 243 So.2d 464 (Fla.App.3d, 1971). Although Ch. 57--550 does affect a particular county or counties which § 3(2) of Ch. 71--29 would otherwise convert into an ordinance, it also 'relates to courts,' and hence is governed by that general statutory exception in § 3(1). Since § 3(1) governs, Ch. 57--550 became a general law of the state by the express terms of the statute, rather than a Dade County ordinance.

Appellee contends that the enactment of F.S. § 905.01(1), F.S.A. impliedly repealed Ch. 57--550; that the two provisions are irreconcilable. We do not think so. Repeals by implication are not favored, and are found to exist only where the two statutes are irreconcilable; furthermore, it is the duty of this Court to uphold the constitutional validity of a statute where possible. Thus, we must attempt to harmonize these statutroy provisions to give effect to both, if possible.

It is recognized that the provisions of the two acts vary in several respects, and that F.S. § 905.01(1), F.S.A., the later enacted of the two statutes, states that the provisions of F.S. Ch. 40, F.S.A. shall apply to grand jurors. In the absence of an express repeal of Ch. 57--550, however, it is our duty to uphold the validity of both acts, if possible. This may be done by construing the provisions of Ch. 57--550 as alternative and cumulative to the provisions of F.S. Ch. 40, F.S.A. as applied to grand juries by F.S. § 905.01(1), F.S.A. In this manner, the provisions of both acts are given effect and we so rule.

Accordingly, the order of the trial court granting appellee's motion to dismiss on the basis of the manner in which the grand jury which indicted appellee was drawn and its members...

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10 cases
  • Slaughter v. State, s. 43490
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Florida
    • September 25, 1974
    ...States, 413 F.2d 419 (5th Cir., 1969). Furthermore, this Court has treated similar problems with grand jury selections. State v. Digman, 294 So.2d 325 (Fla.1974); Seay v. State, 286 So.2d 532 (Fla.1973); Silva v. State, 286 So.2d 532 (Fla.1973); And We must therefore conclude that appellant......
  • Flo-Sun, Inc. v. Kirk
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Court of Florida
    • March 29, 2001
    ...end, the general rule applicable here is that implied repeals are not favored and will not be upheld in doubtful cases. See State v. Digman, 294 So.2d 325 (Fla.1974). Moreover, before making a determination that a subsequent statute has impliedly repealed one previously enacted, there shoul......
  • Clayton v. Willis, 86-802
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Florida (US)
    • May 29, 1986
    ...hot potatoes. Grand juries are arms of the court, and should never be political instruments of the state attorney. See State v. Digman, 294 So.2d 325 (Fla.1974). The Circuit Court of Volusia County owes a duty to the public to prevent abuse of the grand jury system, if necessary by the appo......
  • State v. SCM Glidco Organics Corp., s. 89-2465
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Florida (US)
    • December 23, 1991
    ...an earlier one. The general rule is that implied repeals are not favored and will not be upheld in doubtful cases. See State v. Digman, 294 So.2d 325 (Fla.1974); State v. Sarasota County, 74 So.2d 542 (Fla.1954); De Coningh v. City of Daytona Beach, 103 So.2d 233 (Fla. 1st DCA 1958). Moreov......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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