Court Opinion

ID: 9752430
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 18:07:16.686949+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:27:16.096866
License: Public Domain

VAN der VOORT, Judge,
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent from the holding of the majority wherein the trial of appellant is deemed to have begun on Monday, April 24, 1978, one day too late under Rule 1100.
Rule 1100(b) states,
*166“For the purpose of this Rule, trial shall be deemed to commence on the date the trial judge calls the case to trial.”
The notes following the Rule elucidate what is meant by this.
“A trial commences when the trial judge determines that the parties are present and directs them to proceed to voir dire, ...”
The majority’s decision rests on their finding that the inability to assemble a jury panel prevented trial from commencing on Friday, April 21, 1978, the last day for Rule 1100 purposes. I would hold, however, that trial was actually “commenced,” under the Rule, by the action of the judge, who, finding both parties and their counsel present on Friday, April 21, 1978, directed them to proceed to voir dire. Jurors not being available until Monday, April 24, 1978, the parties actually started their voir dire on that Monday. The Rule does not require that the parties sit down to select their jury on or before the 180th day. So long as the court directs them to proceed to voir dire and they do so without delay the trial has commenced.
Therefore, finding no merit in appellant’s other contention, I would affirm the judgment of the lower court.