Commonwealth v. Moore
Decision Date | 16 November 1973 |
Citation | 312 A.2d 422,226 Pa.Super. 58 |
Parties | COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Mary Ann MOORE, Appellant. COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania v. Grover BATTLE, Appellant. |
Court | Pennsylvania Superior Court |
Vincent J. Ziccardi, Defender, Jonathan Miller Chief, Appeals Div.,John W. Packel, Philadelphia, for appellants.
Arlen Specter, Dist. Atty., Milton M. Stein, Asst. Dist. Atty Chief, Appeals Div., James T. Ranney Asst. Dist. Atty., Asst. Chief, Appeals Div., Philadelphia for appellee.
Before WRIGHT, President Judge, and WATKINS, JACOBS, HOFFMAN, SPAULDING, CERCONE and SPAETH, JJ.
These represent two appeals in two separate and unrelated cases which have been consolidated for purposes of appeal because each involve the identical issue. That issue is whether or not the Common Pleas Court in a trial de novo following an appeal as of right from a Municipal Court summary conviction can impose a sentence greater than that originally imposed in the Municipal Court without placing upon the record facts justifying such increase in sentence.
Defendants contend that the United States Supreme Court decision in North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1971) is applicable. The Supreme Court there held that the trial court after successful appeal by the defendant could not, upon retrial, increase the sentence that it had imposed at the first trial unless it had affirmatively placed upon the record its reasons for such increase, which 'reasons must be based upon objective information concerning identifiable conduct on the part of the defendant occurring after the time of the original sentencing proceeding.' The court there stated that a defendant must feel free to avail himself of his constitutional right to appeal or collaterally attack his conviction without apprehension or fear that vindictiveness on the part of the trial judge may result in an increased sentece upon remand for retrial.
It is the defendant's contention that though in this case it is a different court (Common Pleas Court) which is increasing the sentence imposed by another court (Municipal Court) after trial de novo granted as a matter of right, that nevertheless, the reasoning and theory behind the North Carolina v. Pearce decision apply to their case. Defendants contend 'If a defendant's choice to exercise his right to a new trial in Common Pleas Court pursuant to the Pennsylvania Constitution Schedule Article 5, § 16(r) (iii) must be weighed against the possibility of increased punishment following the de novo trial, the state has in fact put a 'price on appeal."
The Commonwealth, however, contends that the North Carolina v. Pearce decision has no applicability where the second sentencing is by a different court after trial de novo as of right without allegation of error. It contends that the United States Supreme Court's recent decision in Colten v. Kentucky, 407 U.S. 104, 92 S.Ct. 1953, 32 L.Ed.2d 584 (1972) is governing. The Supreme Court there held that the imposition of an increased sentence by a different court after a trial de novo under the Kentucky two-tier court system did not constitute a denial of due process. The defendants would distinguish the Colten v. Kentucky decision on the basis of the alleged differences between the statutory framework of the Kentucky two-tier system and the Philadelphia two-tier system. However, we find no basis for such distinction and hold that the United States Supreme Court's reasoning in that Ketucky case is here applicable. The Court there stated:
'. . . The possibility of vindictiveness, found to exist in Pearce, is not inherent in the Kentucky two-tier system.
Colten v. kentucky, supra, 407 U.S. at pages 116--117, 92 S.Ct. 1953, 32 L.Ed.2d 584)
We held the above language to be applicable to the facts of the instant case and do not find the Kentucky system distinguishable from the Philadelphia system as to the aspects which the court found governing in Colten v. Kentucky. Nor can we agree with defendant that we should disregard the Colten decision as indicating 'a declining federal standard of due process' which the Pennsylvania courts are not bound to follow in setting their standards in excess of those set by the Federal Government. The Colten view is that no danger of vindictiveness inherently exists in the two-tier court system and we agree with this view.
It is our holding that where, as in the instant case, defendant takes an appeal as of right from a summary judgment, without allegations of error, to a higher court before which his case is tried De novo without reference to the prior summary proceeding and without reference to the sentence imposed by the municipal court, the reasoning supporting Colten v. Kentucky rather than that supporing North Carolina v. Pearce is applicable and governing.
An additional issue remains as to defendant Mary Ann Moore. She claims her 'guilty pleas' in the Common Pleas Court at her trial de novo was coerced by a threat of an unwarranted, increased sentence. We have carefully read the remarks of the trial judge and cannot construe them other than an imparting of information to acquaint defendant with the possibility which did exist under the law concerning an increased sentence.
Judgments of sentence affirmed.
Under the Act of October 17, 1969, P.L. 259, § 18, as amended by the Act of July 11, 1971, P.L. ---, No. 45, § 1, 17 P.S § 711.18, a defendant is not entitled to a jury trial in the Municipal Court; however, if convicted by the Municipal Court judge, he may appeal to the Court of Common Pleas where he will receive a trial De novo, which, if he chooses, may be a trial by jury. No doubt some defendants will be deterred from appealing and thereby from exercising their right to a jury trial if the Common Pleas judge can, without articulating any special reasons, increase the Municipal Court sentence. I disagree with Judge Hoffman's view that, because some defendants will be thus deterred, we should hold that the Common Pleas judge may not increase the sentence unless there is 'objective information concerning identifiable conduct on the part of the defendant occurring after the time of the original (Municipal Court) sentencing proceeding'. North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 726, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 2081, 23 L.Ed.2d 656 (1969).
The reason for providing a trial De novo in the Court of Common Pleas is to protect the defendant's right to a trial by jury. This reason, however, may not be invoked by a defendant such as appellant Battle; he cannot maintain that his exercise of his right to a trial by jury was deterred, or 'chilled', by the possibility that the Common Pleas judge might increase his Municipal Court sentence, for after appealing to the Court of Common Pleas he waived his right to trial by jury.
Putting aside the issue of standing, I see no reason to distinguish between, on the one hand, a defendant whose case is so serious that it must start in the Court of Common Pleas, and on the other hand, a defendant whose case, being less serious, starts in the Municipal Court. The Common Pleas defendant and the Municipal Court defendant should be subject to the Same possibility of a sentence within the statutory maximum...
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