Court Opinion

ID: 9694579
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 17:47:33.512294+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:03.632402
License: Public Domain

CAPPY, Justice,
concurring.
While I join the majority opinion, I write separately concerning Jones’ claim that the trial court improperly foreclosed the jury from considering “any other evidence of mitigation concerning the character and record of the defendant and the circumstances of his offense” pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(e)(8).
I agree with the majority that under the facts of the case sub judice, the trial court did not foreclose the jury from considering mitigation pursuant to Section 9711(e)(8). This possible mitigating circumstance was listed on the verdict form, and the trial court properly limited its instructions to mitigating circumstances as to which some evidence was presented. As there was no evidence of record to support mitigating circumstance 9711(e)(8), the trial court was not obligated to specifically instruct the jury as to this mitigating circumstance.
However, in affirming this decision of the trial court, I believe it is important to note that while Jones did not introduce any evidence to support this mitigating circumstance, neither did the district attorney or any other co-defendant. As the jury is entitled to consider any evidence “of record” from whatever source derived, the duty of the trial court to instruct the jury on this mitigating circumstance was not solely contingent upon the lack of evidence *629introduced by Jones, but also upon the lack of evidence from other potential sources.