Court Opinion

ID: 9646586
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 13:03:47.114012+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:11:39.556464
License: Public Domain

*66HUTCHINSON, Justice,
concurring.
I concur in the result. This record shows that the Commonwealth had good cause to proceed without a preliminary-hearing. I cannot join the majority opinion, however, because I view it as implying that the lack of a preliminary hearing may be “cured” by later proceedings. Our rules allow the Commonwealth to avoid a preliminary hearing upon a showing of good cause. Without this showing, I do not believe that a hearing on pre-trial motions adequately protects a defendant’s right to be free of unlawful detention, unless a judicial officer holds a preliminary hearing and finds probable cause. At that preliminary hearing, the Commonwealth has the burden of establishing a prima facie case against the defendant. A hearing, some months later, on pre-trial motions may be a poor cure for its omission.