Court Opinion

ID: 9746395
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-27 14:14:21.50621+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:25:12.698320
License: Public Domain

NIX, Chief Justice,
concurring.
I agree that the proffered testimony was properly excluded. In my judgment the holding of the Opinion Announcing the Judgment of the Court that declarations against penal interest may provide an exception to the hearsay rule where the circumstances surrounding the declaration provide a clear assurance of their trustworthiness was purely gratuitous. Since the Opinion Announcing the Judgment of the Court fails to provide any guidance as to what circumstances would supply the necessary reliability for establishing the exception, I believe the discussion should be regarded as pure dicta without any precedential value. When a situation presents itself that would justify the recognition of such an exception to the hearsay rule we then can properly acknowledge such an exception.
HUTCHINSON and ZAPPALA, JJ., join in this concurring opinion.