Section 2. Supreme Court, How Constituted - Terms
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Supreme Court - Chief Justice - Declaring Law Unconstitutional - Justice Unable to Participate
The supreme court shall be the highest court and shall consist of at least five justices. The number of justices may be changed by statute, but no change shall have the effect of removing a justice from office. A chief justice shall be selected from among the justices of the supreme court as provided by statute. The chief justice may resign as chief justice without resigning from the supreme court. The supreme court by rule may sit and render final judgment either en banc or in divisions. The court shall not declare any law unconstitutional under this constitution or the Constitution of the United States, except on the concurrence of a majority of all justices of the supreme court. If a justice of the supreme court is disqualified or otherwise unable to participate in a cause before the court, the chief justice, or in the event the chief justice is disqualified or unable to participate, the remaining justices, shall call an active judge from an appellate court or the district court to participate in the cause.
Supreme Court, How Constituted - Terms
All tangible property in the state, not exempt under the laws of the United States, or under this constitution, shall be taxed in proportion to its value, to be ascertained as provided by law. The property of the state, counties, cities, towns, school districts, municipal corporations and public libraries, lots with the buildings thereon used exclusively for either religious worship or charitable purposes, and places of burial not held or used for private or corporate benefit, shall be exempt from taxation. Tangible personal property present in Utah on January 1, m., which is held for sale or processing and which is shipped to final destination outside this state within 12 months may be deemed by law to have acquired no situs in Utah for purposes of ad valorem property taxation and may be exempted by law from such taxation, whether manufactured, processed or produced or otherwise originating within or without the state. Water rights, ditches, canals, reservoirs, power plants, pumping plants, transmission lines, pipes and flumes owned and used by individuals or corporations for irrigating land within the state owned by such individuals or corporations, or the individual members thereof, shall not be separately taxed so long as they shall be owned and used exclusively for such purposes. Power plants, power transmission lines and other property used for generating and delivering electrical power, a portion of which is used for furnishing power for pumping water for irrigation purposes on lands in the state of Utah, may be exempted from taxation to the extent that such property is used for such purposes. These exemptions shall accrue to the benefit of the users of water so pumped under such regulations as the legislature may prescribe. The taxes of the indigent poor may be remitted or abated at such times and in such manner as may be provided by law. The legislature may provide for the exemption from taxation of homes, homesteads, and personal property, not to exceed $2,000 in value for homes and homesteads, and all household furnishings, furniture, and equipment used exclusively by the owner thereof at his place of abode in maintaining a home for himself and family. Property not to exceed $3,000 in value, owned by disabled persons who served in any war in the military service of the United States or of the state of Utah and by the unmarried widows and minor orphans of such disabled persons or of persons who while serving in the military service of the United States or the state of Utah were killed in action or died as a result of such service may be exempted as the legislature may provide.
The legislature shall provide by law for an annual tax sufficient, with other sources of revenue, to defray the estimated ordinary expenses of the state for each fiscal year. For the purpose of paying the state debt, if any there be, the legislature shall provide for levying a tax annually, sufficient to pay the annual interest and to pay the principal of such debt, within twenty years from the final passage of the law creating the debt.
Supreme Court, How Constituted - Terms
The Supreme Court shall consist of three Judges; but after the year A. D. 1905, the Legislature may increase the number thereof to five. A majority of the Judges constituting the court shall be necessary to form a quorum or render a decision. If a Justice of the Supreme Court shall be disqualified from sitting in a cause before said court, the remaining Judges shall call a District Judge to sit with them on the hearing of such cause. The Judges of the Supreme Court shall be elected by the electors of the State at large. The term of office of the Judges of the Supreme Court, excepting as in this article otherwise provided, shall be six years. The Judges of the Supreme Court, immediately after the first election under this Constitution, shall be selected by lot, so that one shall hold office for the term of three years, one for the term of five years, and one for the term of seven years. The lots shall be drawn by the Judges of the Supreme Court, who, for that purpose, shall assemble at the seat of government; and they shall cause the result thereof to be certified by the Secretary of State, and filed in his office. The Judge having the shortest term to serve, not holding his office by appointment or election to fill a vacancy, shall be the Chief Justice, and shall preside at all terms of the Supreme Court, and in case of his absence, the Judge, having in like manner, the next shortest term, shall preside in his stead.