Court Opinion

ID: 9853710
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:52:55.050138+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:20:01.490006
License: Public Domain

BURKE, Justice,
concurring.
While I concur in the views expressed by my colleagues, I fear that the court’s opinion is deficient in one important respect. Under the rule that we have articulated, a conviction can be used as conclusive proof only if it is for a “serious offense.” Unfortunately, our holding provides little in the way of guidance for those who will be called upon, in future cases, to determine whether that requirement has been met. This needless uncertainty will undoubtedly return to the place of its birth in the form of additional appeals. The better approach,' I believe, would be to take care of the problem here and now. My own view is that we should define the term “serious offense” to include any offense for which imprisonment is a potential sanction.