Court Opinion

ID: 9701525
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 22:22:45.699068+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:21:24.322844
License: Public Domain

NIX, Justice,
concurring.
In Commonwealth v. Bolden, 472 Pa. 602, 373 A.2d 90 (1977), this Court granted the defendant in a criminal case, a right to immediately appeal the denial of a pre-trial motion *351to dismiss asserted on double jeopardy grounds. In reaching this conclusion, with which I originally disagreed, Commonwealth v. Bolden, 472 Pa. at 652, 373 A.2d at 114, (Nix, J. dissenting in which O’Brien, J. joined) the majority stressed the need for immediate resolution of the issue.
The basic purpose of the double jeopardy clause mandates that a defendant who has a meritorious claim have an effective procedural means of vindicating his constitutional right to be spared an unnecessary trial. Acquittal upon retrial or belated appellate recognition of a defendant’s claim by reversal of a conviction can never adequately protect the defendant’s rights. The defendant is deprived of his constitutional right the moment jeopardy attaches a second time. His loss is irreparable; to subject an individual to the expense, trauma and rigors incident to a criminal prosecution a second time, offends the double jeopardy clause. The clause establishes the “right to be free from a second prosecution, not merely a second punishment for the same offense.” Fain v. Duff, 488 F.2d 218, 224 (5th Cir. 1973). Without immediate appellate review, a defendant will be forced to undergo a new trial, precluding any review of his claim that he should not be tried at all. “Because of the nature of the constitutional right . assert[ed], no post-conviction relief, either state or federal is capable of vindicating [appellant’s] interest” (citation omitted) (emphasis added) Id., 472 Pa. at 631-632, 373 A.2d at 104.
Today’s ruling seems entirely inconsistent. If the need was as pressing as the majority contended in Bolden and the full protection of the right is dependent upon immediate review, what justification can there be for giving the appellant the option of seeking a delayed, after-the-fact disposition of the question?
Additionally, double jeopardy is a plea in bar and traditionally in this jurisdiction, pleas in bar must be raised in advance of the objectionable anticipated action or they are otherwise waived. What basis can there be for making the issue reviewable (after judgment of sentence) where the opportunity is provided for immediate review?
*352I therefore would find that this contention has been waived and for that reason would affirm the judgment of sentence.