Court Opinion

ID: 9629714
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 09:47:45.775227+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:07:22.663875
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion by
Mr. Justice Eagen :
I still adhere to the views expressed in my concurring and dissenting opinion in Commonwealth v. McCloskey, 443 Pa. 117, 277 A.2d 764 (1971). As I stated therein: “[A] witness before a grand jury need not answer any incriminating questions. Resolution of the *373scope of the privilege against self incrimination and the applicability of the waiver doctrine on a question-by-question basis frequently presents a difficult problem. I cannot see how an untrained layman can be expected to possibly discern whether or not an answer to a particular question will subject him to the danger of incrimination. To deny him the opportunity of adequate consultation with his counsel is to render his right under the Fifth Amendment meaningless.” Id. at 149, 277 A.2d at 780.
Moreover, I strongly disagree with the majority that Burstein and Shapiro were not “in the status of accused persons” when they were called for interrogation before the grand jury. As the majority opinion notes, they were both questioned beforehand by the district attorney who told them their answers were unsatisfactory and “they were subject to immediate arrest.” To now conclude they were not “accused persons” at this point defies reason and logic.
In my view, Burstein’s and Shapiro’s rights under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments were not adequately protected.
Mr. Justice Mandeeino joins in this dissenting opinion.