Title: Carlacci v. Mazaleski (Dissenting Opinion)
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 97 MAP 2000
State: Pennsylvania
Issuer: Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Date: June 3, 2002

[J-191-2000] IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA MIDDLE DISTRICT MAURA CARLACCI, Appellee v. EDWARD R. MAZALESKI, Appellant : : : : : : : : : : : No. 97 MAP 2000 Appeal from the Order of Superior Court entered 12/30/99 at No. 336 MDA 1999 which affirmed the Order of the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County, Criminal Division, entered on12/24/98 at No. 98-CV-4771 Argued: December 6, 2000 DISSENTING OPINION MR. JUSTICE SAYLOR Decided: May 31, 2002 I agree with the majority that, despite the absence of statutory authorization, there exists a right to petition for expungement of a PFAA record which derives from considerations of due process and the protection of reputation guaranteed by Article I, Section 1 of the Pennsylvania Constitution. I do not agree, however, that the remedy of expungement should automatically be afforded in every case in which the proceedings did not evolve beyond the temporary order stage. Rather, particularly given the seriousness with which the legislature views protection from domestic violence, I believe that petitions for expungement in this context should be decided, following a hearing, by a balancing of factors analogous to those enunciated in Commonwealth v. Wexler, 494 Pa. 325, 330, 431 A.2d 877, 879 (1981). Accordingly, as I would reverse the order of the Superior Court but remand for a hearing on Appellant's petition, I respectfully dissent. Madame Justice Newman joins this dissenting opinion.