Opinion ID: 1992461
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)

Text: We agree with the trial court that appellant's incorporation by reference of appellant's Motion for Reconsideration of Sentence in the purported Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statements failed to comply with the letter or spirit of Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b). The purpose of the Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statement is to specify the particular issues which appellant intends to present on appeal in order to permit the trial court an opportunity to provide the appellate court with a focused and meaningful explanation for any challenged actions in its Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion. See Commonwealth v. Mueller, 341 Pa.Super. 273, 491 A.2d 258 (1985); Commonwealth v. Mathis, 317 Pa.Super. 362, 464 A.2d 362 (1983). A comparison of appellant's statements of questions presented in the briefs filed with this Court and the ten separate allegations of error contained in the appellant's motions to reconsider the sentences imposed demonstrates the inadequacy of appellant's Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statements to attempt to focus that inquiry, and the ease with which a clear focus might have been achieved with a single brief statement of the issues to be raised on appeal. Nonetheless, we decline to exercise our discretion to deem the issues raised on appeal waived on that basis. See Commonwealth v. Silver, 499 Pa. 228, 452 A.2d 1328 (1982). We have two reasons for this decision. First, assuming that the procedural defect is even significant enough to warrant attention, dismissal of an appeal on grounds of procedural default would improperly place the burden of such default upon the client rather than the offending counsel. Moreover, at least with respect to criminal appeals, dismissal would merely breed further delay and expense, through the inevitable collateral appeal raising counsel's ineffectiveness under the Post Conviction Hearing Act. The more appropriate course in such cases is to direct erring counsel to comply with the mandate of the procedural rule, upon pain of contempt. See Commonwealth v. Zeitlen, 366 Pa.Super. 78, 530 A.2d 900 (1987); id., 530 A.2d at 903-04 (Kelly, J., concurring). Second, the absence of proper Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) statements in no way impairs our review or disposition of these appeals. We agree with the trial court that its detailed remarks at the sentencing hearing are a more than sufficient statement of its reasons for the actions challenged in these appeals. Hence, despite the plain violation of the letter and spirit of Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b), we will not dismiss these appeals on that basis.