Court Opinion

ID: 9750957
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 15:51:54.686233+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:26:29.832688
License: Public Domain

*10Opinion by
Mr. Justice Jones
Concurring in Part and Dissenting in Part :
While I agree that, both procedurally and substantively, Magaziner was improperly held in contempt, I disagree with the suggestion in the majority opinion that Magaziner must pursue another remedy to expunge his arrest from the record.
The majority opinion finds that the proceedings which led to the contempt order were “sorely lacking in due process” and that Magaziner, under the circumstances, “suffered a gross injustice in being cited for contempt.” As a result of this unjust and highly improper contempt order, Magaziner “was arrested, booked, fingerprinted, and placed in a cell until bail was secured.”
Our Court is empowered “to minister justice to all persons, in all matters whatsoever, as fully and amply, to all intents and purposes, as the said court has heretofore had power to do, under the Constitution and laws of this Commonwealth” (Act of June 16, 1836, P. L. 784, §1, 17 P.S. §41). I believe that we have the inherent power to right the wrong done to Magaziner in this proceeding. I would, therefore, not only dismiss the proceedings but remand the matter to the court below to expunge from the record any matters which followed the entry of the contempt order.