Opinion ID: 1266317
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Decision

Text: The Supreme Court affirmed the denial of Simmons's PCRA petition in a notably fractured decision. Commonwealth v. Simmons, 569 Pa. 405, 804 A.2d 625 (2001). Chief Justice Flaherty, joined by Justice Newman, announced the judgment of the Court, rejecting three of the Brady claims as procedurally deficient under the PCRA's rule requiring contextualization in pleading, [2] and the fourth Brady claim (regarding the failed mug book identification) as non-meritorious. Justices Castille and Nigro concurred in the result without writing separately. Justice Cappy concurred, also citing procedural concerns. Finally, Justices Saylor and Zappala dissented, stating that Simmons was entitled to a new trial because the prosecution had suppressed material evidence and its actions create[d] a cloud upon the reliability of the verdict and judgment of sentence. Id. at 643.