Court Opinion

ID: 9542718
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:37:47.91958+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:08:46.302332
License: Public Domain

Concurring Opinion by
Spaulding, J.:
I concur in the result reached by the majority and with its reasoning that Bruton v. United States, 391 U.S. 123, 88 S. Ct. 1620, 20 L. Ed. 2d 476 (1968), is inapplicable in the present situation. However, in so concluding, the majority has nevertheless unnecessarily discussed Bruton’s holding. Since its interpretation is unduly restrictive, I feel compelled to add these words.
In Bruton, supra, at 129, the United States Supreme Court recognized that instructions to disregard prejudicial out-of-court inculpatory statements of a co-defendant are “ineffective in that the effect of such a nonadmissible declaration cannot be wiped from the brains of the jurors”, citing Delli Paoli v. United States, 352 U.S. 232, at 247, 77 S. Ct. 294, 1 L. Ed. 2d 278 (1957). The majority’s position here, that this risk is absent where the fact finder is a judge rather than a jury, is unpersuasive. Recently, in Commonwealth v. Rivers, 218 Pa. Superior Ct. 184, 187, 279 A. 2d 766 (1971), this Court reiterated the human fallibility of even the most learned trial judge. Judge Jacobs, speaking for the Court, stated that it is impossible to expect a judge sitting without a jury to be able to disregard impermissible evidence of prior crimes in adjudicating the guilt or innocence of the accused. He noted that the evidence was so “prejudicial that the trier of facts, even *61though he was an able and experienced trial judge” must have been influenced by his having heard it. Commonwealth v. Rivers, supra. There being no reason to believe that a trial judge can “wipe from his mind” a nonadmissible declaration any better than a juror, I feel Bruton would apply to such a situation.
However, as I agree with the majority, that Bruton is inapplicable in the instant case, I concur in affirming the judgment of sentence.
Hoffman, J., joins in this concurring opinion.