Court Opinion

ID: 9762203
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 02:16:28.051877+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:31.902039
License: Public Domain

DISSENTING STATEMENT BY
ORIE MELVIN, J.:
¶ 1 I respectfully dissent from the Majority’s Opinion discharging Appellant from the sentence imposed on his 1990 drug conviction on the basis that his substantive due process rights were violated.
¶ 2 Upon review of the factors set forth in Barker v. Wingo, supra, I disagree that Appellant has been prejudiced as a result of the delay in recommitment. The record reflects that while Appellant was mistakenly at liberty on his appeal bond, he was charged with and convicted of other offenses in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. Furthermore, even if Appellant could file a timely PCRA petition, it appears that he would raise the same suppression- claim which was already addressed on direct appeal by a panel of this Court. Therefore, the fact the trial transcript is missing and that certain evidence may be stale is of no moment when the suppression claim has been previously litigated. Therefore, in the absence of any prejudice, I disagree that Appellant should be granted habeas corpus relief and be discharged from his sentence in this case. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent.