Commonwealth v. Murray

879 A.2d 309, 2005 Pa. Super. 254, 2005 Pa. Super. LEXIS 2223
CourtSuperior Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedJuly 8, 2005
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 879 A.2d 309 (Commonwealth v. Murray) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Murray, 879 A.2d 309, 2005 Pa. Super. 254, 2005 Pa. Super. LEXIS 2223 (Pa. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

OPINION BY

HUDOCK, J.:

¶ 1 This is a Commonwealth appeal from an order that dismissed all criminal charges filed against Appellee. We reverse and remand for trial.

¶2 On September 15, 2003, a criminal complaint was filed against Appellee Gordon Murray (Murray). He was arrested *312 on September 18, 2003, and charged with burglary, criminal trespass, harassment and criminal mischief. 1 On May 5, 2004, Murray filed a petition for discharge pursuant to the provisions of Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 600. 2 On May 12, 2004, the trial court entered an order granting the petition and dismissing all charges.

¶ 3 On May 17, 2004, the Commonwealth filed a motion for reconsideration. Thereafter, on May 25, 2004, the Commonwealth filed a notice of appeal. On July 14, 2004, the trial court denied the motion for reconsideration and directed the Commonwealth to file a Rule 1925(b) statement. The Commonwealth complied, and the trial court filed an opinion. Although the Commonwealth identified three issues in its concise statement, it has abandoned two of them as moot. On appeal, the Commonwealth asks us to address only one claim: did the trial court err by dismissing the criminal charges after determining that Murray had not been brought to trial in strict compliance with Rule 600? See Commonwealth’s Brief at 4 (presenting a single issue on appeal).

¶ 4 With regard to claims brought under Rule 600, we must determine whether the trial court committed an abuse of discretion. Commonwealth v. Montgomery, 861 A.2d 304, 309 (Pa.Super.2004).

The term “discretion” imports the exercise of judgment, wisdom and skill so as to reach a dispassionate conclusion, within the framework of the law, and is not exercised for the purpose of giving effect to the will of the judge. Discretion must be exercised on the foundation of reason, as opposed to prejudice, personal motivations, caprice or arbitrary actions. Discretion is abused when the course pursued represents not merely an error of judgment, but where the judgment is manifestly unreasonable or where the law is not applied or where the record shows that the action is a result of partiality, prejudice, bias or ill will.

Commonwealth v. King, 576 Pa. 318, 323, 839 A.2d 237, 240 (2003) (emphasis omitted). The proper scope of review is limited to the evidence on the record of the Rule 600 evidentiary hearing and the findings of the trial court. Commonwealth v. Hunt, 858 A.2d 1234, 1238 (Pa.Super.2004) (en banc). “An appellate court must view the facts in the light most favorable to the prevailing party.” Id. at 1239.

¶ 5 When considering the trial court’s ruling, an appellate court may not ignore the dual purpose behind Rule 600. Id. The Rule serves two equally important functions: (1) the protection of the accused’s speedy trial rights, and (2) the protection of society. Id.

In determining whether an accused’s right to a speedy trial has been violated, consideration must be given to society’s right to effective prosecution of criminal cases, both to restrain those guilty of crime and to deter those contemplating it. However, the administrative mandate of Rule 600 was not designed to insulate the criminally accused from good faith prosecution delayed through no fault of the Commonwealth.

Id. (quoting Commonwealth v. Aaron, 804 A.2d 39, 42 (Pa.Super.2002) (en banc)). So long as there has been no misconduct *313 on the part of the Commonwealth in an effort to evade the fundamental speedy trial rights of an accused, Rule 600 must be construed in a manner consistent with society’s right to punish and deter crime. Id. In considering these matters, courts must carefully factor into the ultimate equation not only the prerogatives of the individual accused, but the collective right of the community to vigorous law enforcement as well. Id. “Strained and illogical judicial construction adds nothing to our search for justice, but only serves to expand the already bloated arsenal of the unscrupulous criminal determined to manipulate the system.” Id.

¶ 6 Rule 1100, now 600, was designed to implement the speedy trial rights provided by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and by Article I, Section 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution. Commonwealth v. DeBlase, 542 Pa. 22, 30, 665 A.2d 427, 431 (1995). The constitutional provisions themselves continue to provide a separate basis for asserting a claim of undue delay in appropriate cases. Id. The first step in determining whether a technical violation of Rule 600 has occurred is to calculate the “mechanical run date.” Aaron, 804 A.2d at 42. The mechanical run date is the date by which the trial must commence under Rule 600. Id. It is calculated by ascertaining the number of days in which the Commonwealth must commence trial under Rule 600 and counting from the date on which the criminal complaint was filed. Id. The mechanical run date can be modified or extended by adding any periods of time in which the defendant causes delay. Id. Once the mechanical run date is modified accordingly, it then becomes an “adjusted run date.” Id.

¶ 7 Rule 600 takes into account both “excludable time” and “excusable delay.” Hunt, 858 A.2d at 1241. “Excluda-ble time” is defined in Rule 600(C) as the period of time between the filing of the written complaint and the defendant’s arrest, provided that the defendant could not be apprehended because his whereabouts was unknown and could not be determined by due diligence; any period of time for which the defendant expressly waives Rule 600; and/or such period of delay at any stage of the proceedings as results from: (a) the unavailability of the defendant or the defendant’s attorney; and/or (b) any continuance granted at the request of the defendant or the defendant’s attorney. Hunt (citing Pa.R.Crim.P. 600(C)). The “due diligence” required under Rule 600(C)(1) pertains to the Commonwealth’s efforts to apprehend the defendant. Id. at 1241 n. 10. The other aspects of Rule 600(C) defining “excludable time” do not require a showing of due diligence by the Commonwealth. Id. “Excusable delay” is not expressly defined in Rule 600, but the legal construct takes into account delays which occur as a result of circumstances beyond the Commonwealth’s control and despite its due diligence. Id. See id., 858 A.2d at 1241-42 (explaining manner in which excludable time, excusable delay and due diligence are to be determined).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Com. v. Truett, B.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2021
Com. v. Vando, L.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2020
Com. v. Shatzer, B.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2020
Com. v. Kelce, W., Jr.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2019
Com. v. Colon, A.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2019
Com. v. Bendik, E.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2019
Com. v. Ellison, A.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2018
Com. v. Jaouni, N.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2017
Com. v. Ingram, A.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2017
Com. v. Akbarr, F.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2016
Com. v. Plowden, T.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2016
Com. v. Flowers, N.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2016
Com. v. Salcido, J.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2015
Com. v. Bush, T.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2015
Com. v. G.C.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2014
Commonwealth v. Goldman
70 A.3d 874 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2013)
Commonwealth v. Checo
19 Pa. D. & C.5th 260 (Monroe County Court of Common Pleas, 2010)
Commonwealth v. Baird
919 A.2d 258 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2007)
In re DeLeon
902 A.2d 1027 (Judicial Discipline of Pennsylvania, 2006)
Commonwealth v. Preston
904 A.2d 1 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2006)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
879 A.2d 309, 2005 Pa. Super. 254, 2005 Pa. Super. LEXIS 2223, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-murray-pasuperct-2005.