Court Opinion

ID: 9637564
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 15:10:27.090703+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:09:57.798847
License: Public Domain

CIRILLO, Judge,
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent. Pa.R.App.P. 2117(c)(4) provides that:
Such pertinent quotations of specific portions of the record, or summary thereof, with specific reference to the places in the record where the matter appears (e.g. ruling of exception thereto, etc.) as will show that the question was timely and properly raised below so as to preserve the question on appeal.
Where the portions of the record relied upon under this subdivision are voluminous, they shall be included in an appendix to the brief, which may, if more convenient, be separately presented.
Pa.R.App.P. 2119(c) provides that:
Reference to record. If reference is made to the pleadings, evidence, charge, opinion or order, or any other matter appearing in the record, the argument must set forth, in immediate connection therewith, or in a footnote thereto, a reference to the place in the record where the *247matter referred to appears (see Rule 2132) (references in briefs to the record).
(Emphasis supplied).
These rules do not apply at the option of a party. If they did the consequence of non-compliance would be the result the majority suggests in this case. Whenever appellant deemed it beneficial to present a bald assertion of insufficiency of the evidence, or any other claim, the record and any reference to it would be omitted. The appellate court would be unable to rule in its absence and the case would be remanded for completion of the record without prejudice to appellant. This result would nullify the express mandate of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure.
In an analogous situation, President Judge Spaeth opined in Commonwealth v. Rozanski, 289 Pa.Super. 531, 546, 433 A.2d 1382, 1390, (1981) that:
Appellant also argues that the prosecutor engaged in inflammatory conduct by repeatedly playing the tape recording of appellant’s message to St. Stephen’s Church. Brief for appellant at 22. There is no merit to this argument either. As we have discussed, this evidence was properly admitted. In any event, this objection has been waived because appellant has failed to cite to the record, advising us either at what point in the trial the asserted objectionable use of the evidence occurred, or in what manner his objection was preserved for appellate review. See, Pa.R.A.P. 2117(c)(4).
(Emphasis supplied).
Likewise, in the instant case, appellant’s failure to comply with Pa.R.App.P. 2117(c)(4) renders his objection waived.
In Commonwealth v. Gigli, 287 Pa.Super. 347, 350, 430 A.2d 319, 320 (1981) in a per curiam order of the Court, a panel which was comprised of President Judge Spaeth, Judge Wickersham, and Judge Lipez, appellant’s brief was found to be inadequate for non-compliance with the rules of appellate procedure and the appeal dismissed. In cases *248such as these, a remand would not be in the interest of judicial economy.
Appellant argued that the evidence was insufficient to support a conviction for recklessly endangering another, or simply that the weapon used during the commission of the crime was incapable of being fired. The argument made no reference to the record.
Where reference is made to the evidence, appellant must set forth at least a reference to the place in the record where the matter complained of appears, Pa.R.App.P. 2119(c), and show that the question was timely and properly raised in the trial court so as to preserve the question for review, Pa.R.App.P. 2117(c)(4). The burden is on the appellant to comply with the rules of procedure. If he chooses not to comply, he must accept the consequences of his voluntary non-compliance.
The second issue raised by appellant does not rely on an incomplete record. It concerns the charge to the jury and we find the contention to be without merit. The charge in question was followed by an unequivocal instruction that the jury was to make a factual determination as to the robbery. We would therefore affirm the trial court with respect to the second issue.