Title: Commonwealth v. Walker, H. - No. (Granted) (petitions for allowance of appeal)

State: pennsylvania

Issuer: Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Document:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA WESTERN DISTRICT COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, Respondent v. HAROLD WALKER, Petitioner : : : : : : : : : : : No. 277 WAL 2023 Petition for Allowance of Appeal from the Order of the Superior Court ORDER PER CURIAM AND NOW, this 9th day of April, 2024, the Petition for Allowance of Appeal is GRANTED. The issue, as stated by petitioner is: Did the Trial Court err in allowing the following voir dire question as it impermissibly sought to disclose what a juror’s present opinion would have been under certain facts that were to be developed in the case, was in the nature of a jury instruction and/or was an incorrect statement of law: “Under Pennsylvania law, the testimony of the alleged victim standing alone, if believed by you, is sufficient proof upon which to find the defendant guilty in a sexual assault case. Thus, you may find the defendant guilty if the testimony of the alleged victim convinces you beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. Would you be able to follow this principle of law?” The Prothonotary is DIRECTED to list this matter for oral argument at the same session as, and consecutive to, Commonwealth v. Smith, 234-235 EAL 2023.