Court Opinion

ID: 9696685
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 18:55:18.842495+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:25.507191
License: Public Domain

Justice EAKIN,
concurring.
I join the majority opinion. I write separately to reiterate my concerns expressed in Commonwealth v. Miller, 585 Pa. 144, 888 A.2d 624, 633 (2005) (Eakin, J., concurring) (stating “no legislation has been passed to [set mental retardation standards for capital defendants since Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304, 122 S.Ct. 2242, 153 L.Ed.2d 335 (2002), and] this is inherently a legislative matter — it is hoped that the legislature would also act without further delay.”). It has been almost five years since Atkins was decided, and the legislature has still not acted in this regard. In the continued absence of legislative action, I agree with the three-part construct Justice Castille set forth in his concurring opinion. See Concurring Op., at 231-32, 924 A.2d at 617.