Commonwealth v. Warner
Commonwealth v. Warner
Opinion of the Court
Appellant contends inter alia
On March 5, 1977, police arrested appellant and filed a written criminal complaint charging him with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol,
“I am aware and have been advised of the implications and consequences of the above application and (have/do not have) objection to the continuance. I am further aware of my right to a speedy trial and that a continuance shall cause
The lower court granted the continuance but for an unspecified period of time.
Rule 1100(a)(2) mandates that the Commonwealth commence appellant’s trial within 180 days of the filing of the written complaint. Any delay beyond 180 days must be either excluded from the computation of days pursuant to Rule 1100(d) or justified by an order granting an extension pursuant to Rule 1100(c). Commonwealth v. O'Shea, 465 Pa. 491, 495, 350 A.2d 872, 874 (1976). When, as here, the Commonwealth has not sought an extension of time under
Because the Commonwealth in the case at bar never applied for an extension of time under Rule 1100(c), it must prove that at least 30 days are excluded from the computation of time under Rule 1100(d). The Commonwealth may not rely upon appellant’s signed waiver because it is not valid. Coleman, supra. Even assuming defense counsel’s unavailability for the entire period from July 20,1977 to the end of the week of July 25, 1977, “it is clear that the reason for not scheduling [appellant’s] trial in the remaining days of the [Rule 1100] period was because the court calendar would not permit. Thus, the Commonwealth’s claim for excusing the commencement of trial on the days following [the admitted period of unavailability] rests upon a claim in the nature of ‘judicial delay’ rather than . . . unavailability . . . . Our cases have made clear that scheduling difficulties may provide the basis for the request of an
Judgment of sentence reversed and vacated and appellant discharged.
. Appellant also contends that the lower court erred in not sustaining his demurrer. Because of our disposition on the Rule 1100 issue, we need not reach the merits of this claim.
. 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 1542.
. 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3714.
. 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2504.
. It is unclear from the record when the lower court granted the continuance. We have only the written application before us which indicates that (1) appellant signed the waiver on July 13, 1977, (2) appellant’s counsel signed the continuance on July 14, 1977, and (3) the prosecutor’s office signed the application, thereby indicating it was not opposed, on July 20, 1977. On the bottom portion of the application, the lower court indicated that it granted the application for continuance by marking an “X” after the word “Granted” and signing it. The lower court did not date its grant. However, the application, complete with the lower court’s signature, was filed on July 20, 1977. We conclude from the above that the continuance was granted on July 20, 1977.
. Because the trial judge had not yet directed the parties to proceed to voir dire or opening argument nor taken any other such first step in the trial, appellant’s Rule 1100(f) motion was timely filed. See Commonwealth v. Evans, 249 Pa.Super. 142, 375 A.2d 799 (1977).
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent. This is another case in which trial was delayed by the appellant, who then attempted to use that delay, successfully it now appears, to obtain a dismissal of criminal charges against him.
In Commonwealth v. Brightwell, 486 Pa. 401, 406 A.2d 503 (1979), Justice Nix, writing in support of affirmance by an equally divided court, articulated the common sense rule which ought to be applied in this and in similar cases. “[W]e know of no case,” he wrote, “wherein the right to a speedy trial has been violated when the cause for the delay has been properly attributable to the defendant. To the contrary, where the defendant has deliberately caused the delay, he has been prevented from taking advantage of his own wrong.” (486 Pa. at page 405, 406 A.2d at page 505).
The instant case was scheduled for trial in Adams County during the week of July 25, 1977, and the Commonwealth was prepared to proceed at that time. A continuance was requested by appellant’s counsel, however, and joined by appellant himself, for the stated reason that counsel would be unavailable. Knowing that his application for continuance faced possible opposition by the District Attorney and a doubtful reception by the trial judge, both of whom were aware that 180 days would expire before the next scheduled session of jury trials in September, appellant’s counsel took
Under these circumstances, I would hold that appellant knowingly agreed to a trial in September. Because such a trial followed the expiration of more than 180 days from the signing of the complaint against him, appellant thereby waived the time requirements of Rule 1100.
There can be no doubt that appellant and his counsel desired and made application for a continuance of the trial scheduled in July, 1977. It also is clear that in Adams County the next session of criminal jury trials was scheduled to commence on Monday, September 26, 1977 and that appellant’s counsel was chargeable with knowledge of that fact. Finally, it seems clear that appellant’s counsel represented to the District Attorney that the requirements of Rule 1100 were being waived knowingly and voluntarily in order to obtain consent from the District Attorney and favorable action by the court on the application for continuance. Because counsel’s knowledge of the court calendar in Adams County must be imputed to his client, I would hold that appellant’s joinder in the request for a general continuance constituted consent to be tried at the next term of court to be held during the week of September 26,1977. Cf.
It is correct, as appellant argues, that the problem could have been avoided if, as suggested in Commonwealth v. Coleman, 477 Pa. 400, 405-406, 383 A.2d 1268, 1271 (1978), the continuance had been granted for a specified period of time. In July, 1977, however, the teachings of the Supreme Court in Coleman were not available to the trial court.
Thus, when all the legalese is stripped away, the one fact that clearly remains is that appellant and his counsel were responsible for the continuance in July and thereby achieved a delay of the trial until September. Now they seek to avoid their agreement and use the very delay which they caused to avoid a trial on the merits. By permitting such a result, we encourage the games which are being played with Rule 1100 in the trial courts. Perhaps even more regrettably, we contribute to the disillusionment of a public which cannot comprehend a criminal justice system which allows a defendant to cause delay and then take advantage of his own delay to obtain a dismissal of serious criminal charges against him.
. Coleman was decided on March 23, 1978.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Jeffrey A. WARNER, Appellant
- Cited By
- 6 cases
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- Published