Court Opinion

ID: 9717426
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 07:03:24.650487+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:53.150132
License: Public Domain

OLSZEWSKI, Judge,
concurring:
I agree with the disposition reached by the panel in this case but write separately to emphasize that we are extremely mindful of the problems of the trial judge who, when confronted with a substantial summary conviction list, must, pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 1123(c), advise each defendant of his right to file post-verdict motions, and consequently reschedule sentencing of each defendant pending disposition of these motions. We have no alternative, however, but to follow Commonwealth v. Ragoli, 362 Pa.Super. 390, 524 A.2d 933 (1987), which holds that the requirements of Rule 1123 must be observed.
The difficulty with the instant case is that defense counsel failed to file the appropriate motion for reconsideration *533of the sentence and instead immediately appealed the judgment of sentence. Had defense counsel filed a motion to reconsider sentence with the trial court, the need for the instant appeal may have been obviated.
In conclusion, we note that this is an area which merits special attention by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court or the Pennsylvania legislature. Consideration should be given to the trial judge who is forced, under current rules and practice, to reschedule for sentencing each defendant who wishes to file post-verdict motions. A trial judge faced with a docket crowded with summary convictions would be able to dispose of these cases more expeditiously if he were permitted to sentence defendant directly following the verdict, with both the verdict and judgment of sentence being subject to challenge by defendant thereafter.