Court Opinion

ID: 9533258
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:29:55.692337+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:59.002504
License: Public Domain

Justice NEWMAN,
dissenting.
I agree with the dissenting opinion of Mr. Justice Saylor. I write separately to note my disagreement with the majority’s resolution of this matter, which has the effect of creating a per se rule granting expungement in Protection From Abuse Act cases where the proceedings do not evolve beyond the temporary order stage. While employing a per se rule may save judicial resources, I do not believe that it serves the interests of the citizens of the Commonwealth to eliminate the exercise of judicial discretion from the expungement process. Therefore, I believe that the balancing test set forth in Commonwealth v. Wexler, 494 Pa. 325, 431 A.2d 877, 879 (1981) should apply in the instant matter. Accordingly, I dissent.