J. THOMAS GURNEY, ET AL., AS MEMBERS OF AND CONSTITUTING THE COUNTY BUDGET COMMISSION OF ORANGE COUNTY,
v.
STATE, EX REL. CARY D. LANDIS, AS ATTORNEY GENERAL

Fla. | 1936-05-14
Whitfield, C. J., and Ellis, Terrell, Brown, Buford and Davis, J. J., concur.
124 Fla. 280 Florida Supreme Court (1936)
Also reported at: 168 So. 245

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Synopsis

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's judgment due to an equal division among the justices, establishing a precedent for affirming judgments when the court is permanently and equally divided.


Holding

Yes, when the members of the Supreme Court are permanently and equally divided in opinion and there is no prospect of change, the judgment of the lower court should be affirmed.


Key Quotes

“In this case Mr. Chief Justice Whitfield, Mr. Justice Terrell and Mr. Justice Davis are of the opinion that the judgment of the Circuit Court should be reversed, while Mr. Presiding Justice Ellis and Mr. Justice Brown and Mr. Justice Buford are of the opinion that the said judgment should be affirmed.”

Describes the division among the justices.

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Facts & Procedural History

The case involved an appeal where the six justices of the Florida Supreme Court were equally divided on whether to affirm or reverse the lower court's…

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Opinion of the Court
Per Curiam.

Per Curiam.

In this case Mr. Chief Justice Whitfield, Mr. Justice Terrell and Mr. Justice Davis are of the opinion that the judgment of the Circuit Court should be reversed, while Mr. Presiding Justice Ellis and Mr. Justice Brown and Mr. Justice Buford are of the opinion that the said judgment should be affirmed. When the members of the Supreme Court, sitting six members in a body and after full consultation, it appears that the members of the Court are permanently and equally divided in opinion as to whether the judgment should be affirmed or reversed, and there is no prospect of an immediate change in the personnel of the Court, the judgment should be affirmed; therefore it is considered, ordered and adjudged under the authority of State, ex rel. Hampton, v. McClung, 47 Fla. 224, 37 So. Rep. 51, that the judgment of the Circuit Court in this cause be and the same is hereby affirmed.

Affirmed.

Whitfield, C. J., and Ellis, Terrell, Brown, Buford and Davis, J. J., concur.


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