Court Opinion

ID: 9756986
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 22:12:39.722948+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:33.960259
License: Public Domain

POMEROY, Justice
(dissenting).
As the majority opinion notes, this Court has recently created a per se rule requiring reversal whenever a juve*410nile has waived his constitutional rights, see Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 86 S.Ct. 1602, 16 L.Ed.2d 694 (1966), without the opportunity to consult with a parent or other interested adult, who himself has first been advised of the juvenile’s constitutional rights. See Commonwealth v. Riggs, 465 Pa. 208, 348 A.2d 429 (1975); Commonwealth v. Webster, 466 Pa.-, 353 A.2d 372 (1975); Commonwealth v. McCutchen, 463 Pa. 90, 343 A.2d 669 (1975); Commonwealth v. Starkes, 461 Pa. 178, 335 A.2d 698 (1975); Commonwealth v. Roane, 459 Pa. 389, 329 A.2d 286 (1974). I have consistently expressed my disagreement with this rule. See the dissenting opinion of Mr. Justice EAGEN in Commonwealth v. Roane, supra, joined by Mr. Chief Justice JONES and this writer; the dissenting opinion of Mr. Justice EAGEN in Commonwealth v. Starkes, supra, joined by Mr. Chief Justice JONES and this writer; and Part I of the dissenting opinion of this writer in Commonwealth v. Webster, supra. I continue to adhere to the views expressed in those opinions that the rule is unwise, unnecessary and unwarranted. Hence this dissent.
JONES, C. J., and EAGEN, J., join in this dissent.