Court Opinion

ID: 9712399
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:53:04.511964+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:11.907560
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion by
Me. Chief Justice Bell:
I dissent from the newly established mandated (and apparently retroactive) policy that in every case where a person is convicted of or charged with crime and is thought to be mentally ill and where a commission is appointed by the appropriate Court to examine that person, lie is entitled to be represented by legal counsel.
The majority Opinion (1) alters the heretofore well established law of Pennsylvania and (2) overrules all the recent decisions of this Court and (3) in practical effect changes a civil proceeding which is primarily for the benefit of a person who is actually or possibly mentally ill into a criminal proceeding. Every Court must, of course, obey the decisions of the Supreme *488Court of the United States which are directly in point, but I strongly object to a State Court extending, in reliance upon “implication” any decisions of the Supreme Court in the field of criminal law which further reduce the protection which the Constitution ordains for law-abiding citizens. The danger and foolishness of a policy of a State Court extending decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States in the field of criminal law and the date they take effect is apparent from the analysis and review of prior decisions of that Court in the Opinion of Chief Justice Warren in Jenkins v. Delaware, 395 U.S. 213 (37 U.S.L.W. 4458 (1969)).
I repeat, an advisory Sanity hearing and recommendation is not, and until today never has been, a criminal or adversary proceeding, and I agree with Justice Eagen that In Re Gault, 387 U.S. 1 (involving the guilt and possible imprisonment of juveniles) is distinguishable for the reasons set forth in his Opinion. Moreover, Justice Robebts in holding that a Sanity hearing is a “critical” stage like United States v. Wade, 388 U.S. 218, and therefore an attorney in such proceedings is Constitutionally mandated, goes far beyond any decision of the Supreme Court or of this Court and in practical effect expunges the clean language of The Mental Health Act of 1951, that the findings and recommendations of the Commission are merely advisory to the Court.
In Commonwealth v. Ballem, 391 Pa. 626, 139 A. 2d 534, Justice Chidsey, speaking for a unanimous Court, held (1) that a sanity hearing is not a criminal proceeding or an adversary proceeding to determine appellant’s guilt or innocence, but a collateral proceeding entirely apart therefrom to inform the conscience of the Court as to the appellant’s mental condition, and (2) that the report or recommendation of the commission is only advisory to the Court.
*489In Commonwealth v. Bechtel, 384 Pa. 184, 120 A. 2d 295, the Court in an Opinion by the present Chief Justice, with Justice Mtjsmanno writing a concurring and dissenting Opinion, pertinently said (pages 190-191) : “This petition for a commission to determine petitioner’s mental health and the proceedings thereunder is not a criminal prosecution* but a collateral proceeding to determine the mental health of the person involved for his benefit or for the benefit of the public or both. Cf. Com. v. Patskin, 375 Pa. 368, 100 A. 2d 472; Com. v. Iacobino, 319 Pa. 65, 178 A. 823; Com. v. Scovern, 292 Pa. 26, 140 A. 611. Inquiries into the mental health or sanity of a prisoner whether made before trial or after conviction and before sentence are ‘to inform the conscience of the judge’. Com. v. Iacobino, 319 Pa., supra; Com. v. Scovern, 292 Pa., supra. Where an inquiry is made into the mental illness or sanity of a defendant the purpose of which is solely to inform the conscience of the Court, the accused does not have under the Constitution a right to a trial of such issue by a jury. Cf. Com. v. Iacobino, 319 Pa., supra; Com. v. Patskin, 375 Pa., supra.” Accord: Commonwealth v. Moon, 386 Pa. 205, 125 A. 2d 594. Once again, and in recent years, over and over again the majority force the Bench and Bar and the Public to wonder “Is stare decisis upon which the House of Law was built and maintained as a beacon light for the people and for public officials and for Courts of Justice ‘one with Nineveh and Tyre,’ or can it be restored so that all people, including public officials, will know their rights, their powers, their duties and their liabilities?”** Is it any wonder that litigation is *490increasing by leaps and bounds and is swamping the Courts?
The majority, we repeat, blindly ignore or blandly forget that a man is placed in a mental hospital primarily for his benefit and care, and at times for the protection of the public. In further support of our position, a man who is insane cannot be convicted of any crime. Commonwealth v. Scovern, 292 Pa. 26, 29, 140 A. 611; Commonwealth v. Moon, 383 Pa. 18, 23, 117 A. 2d 96; Commonwealth v. Patskin, 375 Pa. 368, 100 A. 2d 472; Commonwealth ex rel. Smith v. Ashe, 364 Pa. 93, 116, 71 A. 2d 107; Commonwealth ex rel. Hilberry v. Maroney, 424 Pa. 493, 495, 227 A. 2d 159.
Moreover, if a person is really insane or mentally ill or mentally incompetent within the meaning of the Mental Health Act, he cannot even be subjected to trial. In Commonwealth ex rel. Hilberry v. Maroney, 424 Pa., supra, a unanimous Court said (pages 494-495) : “There can be no doubt that, if Hilberry were mentally incompetent at the time he entered his plea, the same should be set aside and declared of no effect. See Commonwealth v. Moon, 383 Pa. 18, 117 A. 2d 96 (1955). And the test to be applied in determining the legal sufficiency of his mental capacity to stand trial, or enter a plea at the time involved, is not the M’Naghten ‘right or wrong’ test, but rather his ability to comprehend his position as one accused of murder and to cooperate with his counsel in making a rational defense. See Commonwealth v. Moon, supra, and Commonwealth ex rel. Hilberry v. Maroney, supra, at 544. Or stated another way, did he have sufficient ability at the pertinent time to consult with his lawyers with a reasonable degree of rational understanding, and have a rational as well as a factual understanding of *491the proceedings against Mm? See Dusky v. United States, 362 U.S. 402 (1960). Otherwise, the proceedings would lack due process: Bishop v. United States, 350 U.S. 961 (1956). Moreover, if he lost his senses subsequent to the plea but before the judgment, the sentence could not validly be imposed until after his recovery. See Commonwealth v. Ragone, 317 Pa. 113, 176 A. 454 (1935).”
If, as the majority hold, an attorney is mandated (1) every time an accused or a criminal (a) is suspected of being insane or (b) wants to be released from an insane hospital or from a mental institution aotd to stand trial for a crime which he has allegedly committed; and (2) by necessary implication, every time any person objects to being placed in a mental institution or wishes to be released therefrom, where are the Courts going to find sufficient competent lawyers (if the person alleges he is indigent), and where are the tremendously overburdened taxpayers going to get the money to pay for all these required lawyers;* and isn’t it clear that it will greatly and unnecessarily increase litigation which is presently swamping many of our Courts?
Furthermore, we repeat, the majority cavalierly and in practical effect ignore the fact that (1) the report and findings and recommendations of a mental health commission are, under the Act, advisory only, and (2) if a Judge is in doubt and if in the exercise of a sound discretion he deems it wise or necessary, he can—with*492out this new Court mandate—appoint an attorney to represent the person before the Sanity Commission or order a rehearing with counsel. The chances are about 99% that every Judge will lean over backward to protect from unjust incarceration, and more importantly from trial or sentence, a person who is really mentally ill or not competent or able to adequately understand his position or his alleged crime and to cooperate with his counsel in making or aiding him in making a rational and appropriate defense. In this class of case, we should be more realistic and have more confidence and trust in our Judges.

 Italics throughout, ours.

 Stare decisis is not as immutable as the laws of the Medes and the Persians but is subject to several exceptions, none of which is here applicable. See Michael v. Hahnemann M.C. and Hospital, 404 Pa. 424, 438-439, 172 A. 2d 769; and Flagiello v. Pennsylvania *490Hospital, 417 Pa. 486, 528-529, 208 A. 2d 193, and cases cited therein.

 In this case and in similar cases, I believe that when an inmate or a suspect or an habitual criminal wants to be released from a criminal hospital or mental institution (a) because he naturally wants to be released, or (b) in order to stand trial for a crime of which he is accused, it would be only human for his lawyer to use his best efforts to carry out the wishes of his client, even though the lawyer believes or knows that his client is unfit to be restored to Society or to stand trial.