Court Opinion

ID: 9710414
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:09:21.802244+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:56.629267
License: Public Domain

*552SAYLOR, Justice,
dissenting.
As the majority observes, precedent at both the federal and state levels would allow a capital defendant who has been sentenced to life imprisonment as the result of a deadlocked jury to be exposed to the death penalty upon retrial. Nevertheless, I am troubled by the chilling effect that such a rule places upon the right of appeal guaranteed by our state Constitution. In my view, the ends of justice would be better served if, in our supervisory role respecting the administration of capital cases in Pennsylvania, we were to require that such a defendant, if convicted upon retrial, must receive the life sentence originally imposed. Such a requirement would be consistent with the legislative intent that if even a single juror decides against the death penalty, the penalty will not be imposed. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent.
Chief Justice FLAHERTY and Justice NIGRO join this dissenting opinion.