Court Opinion

ID: 9709064
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 03:39:24.567925+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:45.762427
License: Public Domain

*277OPINION OF THE COURT
O’BRIEN, Justice.
Appellant, Robert Mims, was convicted by a jury of murder of the first degree, arson, two counts of aggravated robbery, three counts of aggravated assault and battery, and conspiracy. Post-verdict motions were denied and appellant was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder conviction, with a concurrent five to ten year sentence for the arson conviction. Judgments of sentence were suspended on all other convictions.
Appellant’s convictions resulted from a January 4, 1971, robbery of Dubrow’s Furniture Store at 419 South Street in Philadelphia. During the incident, appellant and his seven cohorts shot and killed one employee, shot and wounded another, doused yet a third with gasoline and set him on fire. All employees were stripped of their personal belongings.
Appellant raises numerous allegations of error. As we find that appellant has been denied the effective assistance of counsel, we need not reach his remaining allegations of error.1
*278Appellant alleges that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to an unduly suggestive in-court identification procedure. The facts are as follows.
At the time of the criminal episode, Louis Gruby was employed at Dubrow’s as a “greeter.” Gruby would ask prospective customers what they were looking for and then direct them to the proper area and salesmen. Gruby and another employee, Audrey Dimeo, were the only employees able to identify any of the participants in the crime. In fact, three days after the robbery, Gruby aided a police artist in making a composite sketch. Appellant was nonetheless able to elude capture until September 20, 1974.
At trial, appellant was placed along with seven other men with similar characteristics in the front row of seats in the *279courtroom rather than at the defense table. Mr. Gruby testified that during the incident, he had an ample opportunity to see appellant. He further testified he had seventeen years of army intelligence training involving the observation and description of persons. Gruby stated that he was “absolutely” certain of his identification. However, when asked to identify appellant, Gruby identified another individual as the person participating in the robbery. At the time of the identification, no one informed Gruby that the man he identified was not appellant.
Following a very brief cross-examination by defense counsel, the district attorney showed Gruby the composite sketch which was made three days after the criminal episode. The following exchange then took place:
“BY THE COURT:
“Q. Mr. Gruby,—
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. —since the incident on January the 4th that took place that you’ve just described, have you seen the man that you identified as Mr. Mims, since that incident in the store?
“A. I have never seen the man, no, since that incident.
“Q. You’ve never seen him in person since that incident.
“A. Not that I can recall, sir.
“Q. And that’s four years and some months ago; is that correct?
“A. Yes. And I’ve been away from Dubrow’s now for over — next month it will be two years since I retired.
“Q. And you described certain facial characteristics that you recall stood out in your mind, is that correct,—
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. —to the police? And you also described the height; is that correct?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. All right. Now, Mr. Gruby, in response to the District Attorney’s question, you went down and — he asked you if you could identity Mr. Mims in the *280courtroom, and you went down rather hurriedly and did so.
“Now, I’m going to ask you to do it again and to do it slowly and take your time. If you don’t mind. If you will go down and take your time, watch your step, and look closely at the people. Don’t answer anything and look closely at the people. Don’t answer anything until you’ve taken a good close look.
“A. Could I change my selection?”
Gruby then identified appellant as the individual who participated in the robbery-killing.
At trial, defense counsel made no objection about the trial court’s role in identifying appellant. Present appellate counsel began representing appellant at post-verdict motions, where he challenged trial counsel’s effectiveness for failing to object to the in-court identification. See Commonwealth v. Dancer, 460 Pa. 95, 331 A.2d 435 (1975).
In Com. ex rel. Washington v. Maroney, 427 Pa. 599, 604-05, 235 A.2d 349, 352 (1967), we said:
“ . . . our inquiry ceases and counsel’s assistance is deemed constitutionally effective once we are able to conclude that the particular course chosen by counsel had some reasonable basis designed to effectuate his client’s interests. The test is not whether other alternatives were more reasonable, employing a hindsight evaluation of the record. Although weigh the alternatives we must, the balance tips in favor of a finding of effective assistance as soon as it is determined that trial counsel’s decisions had any reasonable basis.” (Emphasis in original.) (Footnote omitted.)
The issue before us is thus whether trial counsel had a reasonable basis for failing to object to the court’s role in the in-court identification and whether such failure to object prejudiced appellant.
Appellate counsel argues that the questioned procedure was in error for two reasons: (1) the trial court overstepped its normal role and acted as an advocate, and (2) that the *281court’s advocacy was unduly suggestive, thus tainting the in-court identification. Appellant believes the entire procedure violated due process, which deprived him of a fair trial, and that trial counsel was ineffective in not objecting to the trial court’s conduct.
In Commonwealth v. Butler, 448 Pa. 128, 134-35, 291 A.2d 89, 92 (1972), we stated:
“ . . . If a judge followed the practice which this judge advocated here, a practice of questioning every witness whom the judge did not believe to be telling the truth, while questioning no other witnesses, it would be tantamount to telling the jury his views of which witnesses were to be believed. Credibility is solely for the jury. Just as a trial judge is not permitted to indicate to the jury his views on the verdict that they should reach in a criminal case, Commonwealth v. Motley, 448 Pa. 110, 289 A.2d 724 (1972), Commonwealth v. Archambault, 448 Pa. 90, 290 A.2d 72 (1972), similarly he is not permitted to indicate to a jury his views on whether particular witnesses are telling the truth.
“What we said in Commonwealth v. Myma, 278 Pa. 505, 123 A. 486 (1924), is still pertinent: ‘Witnesses should be interrogated by the judge only when he conceives the interest of justice so requires. It is better to permit counsel to bring out the evidence and clear up disputed points on cross-examination unaided by the court; but, where an important fact is indefinite or a disputed point needs to be clarified, the court may see that it is done by taking part in the examination. The practice of a judge entering into the trial of a case as an advocate is emphatically disapproved. The judge occupies an exalted and dignified position; he is the one person to whom the jury, with rare exceptions, looks for guidance, and from whom the litigants expect absolute impartiality. An expression indicative of favor or condemnation is quickly reflected in the jury box and at the counsel table. To depart from the clear line of duty through questions, expressions, or conduct, contravenes the orderly administration of justice. It *282has a tendency to take from one of the parties the right to a fair and impartial trial, as guaranteed under our system of jurisprudence.’ Commonwealth v. Myma, supra, at page 508, 123 A. 486.”
In the instant case, while the trial court’s actions did not suggest that Gruby was lying, the reasoning in Butler is nonetheless persuasive. Here, the judge in effect told both Gruby and the jury that the witness identified the “wrong man.” This amounts to judicial advocacy which was disapproved of in Butler. By the court telling Gruby to try again in his identification after looking at the composite sketch, it goes without saying that the procedure was unduly suggestive. Once Gruby identified appellant, the jury had to believe that the court itself considered appellant the guilty party. Under these circumstances, where only one other witness identified appellant, we are convinced that the court below improperly injected itself into the court proceeding.
Keeping this in mind, we believe that trial counsel could have no reasonable basis for failing to object to the court’s actions. We are thus convinced that appellant was denied the effective assistance of counsel.
Judgments of sentence reversed and a new trial is granted.
POMEROY, J., files a dissenting opinion.

. Appellant’s brief contains the following other allegations of error:
“1. The In-Court identification of appellant was unnecessarily suggestive and deprived appellant of a fair trial.
“2. The pre-trial photographic display was unnecessarily suggestive and permitted a substantial likelihood of mistaken identification.
“3. The Commonwealth failed to satisfy its burden of proof that the photographic display was not unnecessarily suggestive and conducive to mistaken identification.
“4. The admission of prejudicial hearsay and the misrepresentation of critical facts concerning identification deprived appellant of a fair trial.
“5. The misconduct of the prosecuting attorney deprived appellant of a fair trial
“(a) Arousing religious prejudice
“(b) Reference to other arrests
“(c) Improper argument to the jury
“6. The court erred in permitting Miss DiMeo, an identification witness, to testify after she had violated the court’s sequestration order and viewed the defendant in the hallway.
“7. Error in Limiting Cross-Examination. *278“(a) At the suppression hearing
“(b) At trial
“8. Excessive participation by the learned trial judge deprived appellant of a fair trial.
“9. Denial of the right to a public trial.
“10. Error in withdrawal of manslaughter counts.
“11. Errors in the charge of the court.
“A. Reasonable doubt
“B. Alibi
“12. The denial of appellant’s request for an in-court pre-trial lineup deprived him of due process of law.
“13. Denial of the effective assistance of counsel.
“(I) At the suppression hearing
“A. Failure to request a timely pre-trial lineup
“B. Failure to object to prejudicial hearsay
“C. Failure to investigate and produce necessary witnesses
“D. Failure to insure that appellant received a public trial “E. Failure to adequately cross examine
“F. Failure to suppress the composite picture
“(II) At trial
“A. Failure to object to use of composite sketch
“B. Failure to object to prejudicial hearsay and improper suggestion
“C. (The issue dealt with herein)
“D. Failure of counsel’s duty to call witnesses, investigate, and present a substantial defense
“E. Failure to file a motion to suppress
“F. Failure to object to prosecutorial misconduct
“G. Failure to object to interrogation by the court
“H. Failure to object to the withdrawal of the manslaughter indictment
“I. Failure to submit points for charge.”