Court Opinion

ID: 9708039
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 02:28:13.794427+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:33.969657
License: Public Domain

OLSZEWSKI, Judge,
dissenting:
I am generally in agreement with the Dissenting Opinion of President Judge Cirillo and, consequently, join in that opinion. I write separately to note that I am not unmindful of the very serious problems and unique considerations which arise when a young child is the victim of abuse and must testify in court. To that extent, I share in the concerns of the majority. In this case, however, the Commonwealth has not shown that the procedure utilized was necessary to prevent harm to the child and to ensure her trial testimony. Thus, the Commonwealth has not justified the creation of an exception to an accused’s right to face his accuser as guaranteed by both the United States Constitution and the Pennsylvania Constitution. For this reason, I respectfully dissent.