Case ID: pa_453/html/0008-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Per Curiam, Me. Justice Mandeeino :", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Commonwealth, Appellant, v. Jones.
    
      Argued April 30, 1973.
    Before Jones, C. J., Eagen, O’Brien, Egberts, Pomeroy, Nix and Manderino, JJ.
    
      Clifford E. Haines, Assistant District Attorney, with him Arthur R. Makadon, Assistant District Attorney, Richard A. Sprague, First Assistant District Attorney, and Arlen Specter, District Attorney, for Commonwealth, appellant.
    
      Louis Lipschits, with him Robert L. Franklin, for appellee.
    July 2, 1973:
   Opinion

Per Curiam,

Herein, the Commonwealth appeals from an order below granting a new trial to James Jones, who had been convicted by a jury of murder in the first degree and other related crimes.

After a careful consideration of the entire record and the reasons assigned by the court for granting a new trial, it is clear to us that the court’s ruling was based on an admixture of law and fact. Under the circumstances, the Commonwealth is without any right of appeal. Commonwealth v. Melton, 402 Pa. 628, 168 A. 2d 328 (1961), and Commonwealth v. Zeger, 193 Pa. Superior Ct. 498, 165 A. 2d 683 (1960).

Appeal dismissed.

Dissenting Opinion by

Me. Justice Mandeeino :

I would affirm, the grant of a new trial because there was no abuse of discretion by the trial court. I am unable to find any reason for depriving the Commonwealth of the right to appeal in all cases after the grant of a new trial following a conviction. Even when the matter is considered factual this Court can review in order to determine whether the trial court’s decision was within its proper discretionary authority.