PUBLIC UTILITIES -STATUTORY REVIEW BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT OF A DECISION BY THE COMMISSION

Authors

Abstract

Fifteen states in enacting public utility laws creating public utility commissions, have provided for an appeal on review of commission decisions, by the supreme court of the state. Other states provide for review by lower state courts with a subsequent appeal therefrom to the supreme court. No doubt, the direct appeal goes hand in hand with the more expeditious legal procedure exemplified by the creation of such administrative tribunals. In most states, including eight of the above fifteen, the constitutions provide that the jurisdiction of the supreme courts shall be appellate only, except for a few prerogative writs of original jurisdiction which they have power to issue. Such appellate jurisdiction has been interpreted to mean the power to review cases decided by inferior courts only. The decisions definitely point out that a public utilities commission is an administrative body exercising quasi-judicial power but it is not a court.

Recommended Citation

PUBLIC UTILITIES -STATUTORY REVIEW BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT OF A DECISION BY THE COMMISSION, 25 Mich. L. Rev. 178 (1926).
Available at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mlr/vol25/iss2/9