Opinion of the Justices

I concur in the well-reasoned opinion of the majority, but write specially in order to emphasize the following.

As a guiding legal document our state constitution is second only to the Constitution of the United States. This document, which serves as an expression of the will of the people of Alabama, is second to no act of the legislature, no opinion of the judiciary, and no executive order. Each branch of the government is constrained by the will and wisdom of this guiding document.

The twenty-sixth amendment to the Alabama Constitution of 1901 was proclaimed ratified over six decades ago. It…