Court Opinion

ID: 9750414
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 14:57:33.193642+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:26:09.648613
License: Public Domain

McDERMOTT, Justice,
dissenting.
The opinion announcing the judgment of the Court places great reliance upon a statement of the trial judge which appeared in her opinion in disposing of appellant’s post-trial motions. In so doing the subscribing Justices ignore the context in which the trial judge’s statement was made.
The trial judge’s statement appears in her discussion of appellant’s challenge to the expert witness’ qualifications. The statement was a simple recounting of what the challenged witness had said. The judge did not state that she relied on this statement as proof of appellant’s guilt under § 3731(a)(4).1 Rather, in discussing appellant’s sufficiency argument the judge stated: “[w]e find that the record provides ample basis for the verdict.” Slip op. Stout, J. at 12. Admittedly, this statement is less than specific, but it obviously demonstrates that the judge looked to the entire record in finding appellant guilty.
In Commonwealth v. Lobiondo, 501 Pa. 599, 462 A.2d 662 (1983), we stated that trial court opinions in support of orders are “intended as an aid to the reviewing appellate court and cannot alter a previously entered verdict.” Id., 501 Pa. at 605, fn. 4, 462 A.2d at 665, fn. 4. Additionally, we have repeatedly held that “a ruling or decision of a lower court will be affirmed if it can be supported on any basis despite the lower court’s assignment of a wrong reason.” Commonwealth v. Terry, 513 Pa. 381, 404, 521 A.2d 398, 409 (1987). See Commonwealth v. Shaw, 494 Pa. *137364, fn. 1, 431 A.2d 897, 899 (1981); Commonwealth v. Allsup, 481 Pa. 313, 317, 392 A.2d 1309, 1311 (1978).
The plurality ignores these tenets and concludes that the trial judge must have convicted appellant under § 3731(a)(4),2 despite the existence of overwhelming evidence supporting a guilty verdict under section 3731(a)(1)3 of the drunk driving statute.
Based on the evidence I would affirm the convictions.
PAPADAKOS, J., joins in this opinion.

. 75 Pa.C.S. § 3731(a)(4). Act of December 15, 1982, P.L. 1268, No. 289, § 9.

. Id.

. 75 Pa.C.S. § 3731(a)(1). Act of December 15, 1982, P.L. 1268, No. 289, § 9.