Commonwealth v. LeamanCommonwealth v. Leaman
- Reporters:
- , ,
- Before:
- Van Voort
Lead Opinion
Appellant challenges the constitutionality of the presumption created by § 1212 of the Motor Vehicle Code.1 This presumption is unconstitutional. Commonwealth v. Slaybaugh, 468 Pa. 618, 364 A.2d 687 (1976). Alternatively, we believe that the Commonwealth did not produce sufficient evidence to convict appellant of violating the Motor Vehicle Code. Commonwealth v. Slaybaugh, supra. Accordingly, we order appellant discharged.
On June 22, 1975, Pennsylvania State police officers observed drag races on a public highway in Lancaster County. The police officers recorded the license number of a participating vehicle and determined that appellant owned the car. The police officers subsequently filed criminal complaints charging appellant with three counts of drag racing and several other traffic offenses. On November 7, 1975, appellant filed an Application to Quash Indictments based on the *484alleged unconstitutionality of § 1212 of the Motor Vehicle Code. In particular, appellant asserted that the presumption created by § 1212 unconstitutionally shifted the burden of proof to appellant, infringed his right not to incriminate himself, and violated due process. The lower court dismissed this application. On November 21, 1975, appellant waived his right to trial by jury and trial commenced. At appellant’s trial, the parties stipulated that: “. [T]he Commonwealth has in fact made out a prima facie case of Racing on the Highway, and the further stipulation is that the identity of the Defendant is being proved only by the presumption in the Vehicle Code, Section 1212 of the Vehicle Code, prima facie evidence of his registration.” The court accepted this stipulation and then listened to appellant’s counsel argue that § 1212 violated the United States Constitution for the reasons specified in the Application to Quash Indictments. At the conclusion of this argument, the lower court found appellant guilty of all charges. Appellant’s counsel and the lower court then engaged in the following interchange:
“[Appellant’s counsel]: The defense at this time would enter a motion.
“THE COURT: I mean that the Court finds the Defendant guilty on the three misdemeanor charges as enumerated by the District Attorney and on the seven summary offenses as also enumerated by the District Attorney, and refers to the terms and numbers of those cases as heretofore more fully set forth, and finds the Defendant guilty.
“[Appellant’s counsel]: Off the record.
“(Discussion off the record.)
“THE COURT: The Court bases this decision on the presumption of the Act of Assembly here and above quoted that indicates that there is a presumption that the owner of the car was driving it at the time of the alleged violation, and that it’s his burden to overcome that presumption under *485the present law until changed by an appellate court if so done.
“[Appellant’s counsel]: The defense, at this time, would enter a motion for a new trial and arrest of judgment.
“THE COURT: I direct you not only to file the motions in writing within seven days but get that stipulation signed before you forget about it, the waiver of jury trial.”
In the official docket, the lower court made an entry confirming that appellant had made an oral post-verdict motion for a new trial and in arrest of judgment. At no time did the court give the required Rule 1123(c) warnings as to the necessity of filing specific post-verdict motions in order to preserve contentions for appellate review.2 Subsequently, appellant filed boiler-plate written post-verdict motions challenging the sufficiency of the evidence. On June 17, 1975, the lower court denied appellant’s post-verdict motions; the court filed an opinion thoroughly discussing and rejecting appellant’s challenge to the constitutionality of § 1212. On July 9, 1976, the lower court imposed a one year term of probation upon appellant. This appeal followed.
In his brief, before us, appellant specifically asserts the unconstitutionality of the § 1212 presumption. The Commonwealth’s reply brief consists of one sentence acknowledging that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has declared the § 1212 presumption unconstitutional, Commonwealth v. Slaybaugh, supra, and agreeing that appellant should therefore be discharged. The Dissenting Opinion however, would hold that appellant did not properly preserve his challenge to the unconstitutionality of the § 1212 presumption, and would remand for a hearing on whether appellant intelligently waived this claim.
*486We believe that appellant properly preserved his constitutional challenge for appellate review. Our Court has recently held that a defendant may preserve contentions for our consideration by making specific oral post-verdict motions on the record at the conclusion of trial pursuant to Rule 1123(b). Commonwealth v. Erhart, 248 Pa.Super. 481, 375 A.2d 342 (Filed June 29, 1977); Commonwealth v. Kinsey, 249 Pa.Super. 371, 375 A.2d 727 (Filed June 29, 1977); Commonwealth v. Babb, 246 Pa.Super. 471, 371 A.2d 933 (Filed March 31, 1977). In the instant case, all pre-trial, trial,3 and post-trial proceedings focussed exclusively on one issue; the constitutionality of the § 1212 presumption. Indeed, the Commonwealth and appellant stipulated that this was the only issue involved in the case. After a thorough discussion of the constitutionality of the presumption at trial, the lower court explicitly predicated its guilty verdict upon the operation of the presumption. Appellant’s counsel immediately filed a motion for a new trial and arrest of judgment; the record makes patently clear that this motion could only refer to appellant’s challenge to the constitutionality of the § 1212 presumption.4 The lower court accepted the filing of this motion and responded with a thorough opinion on the issue raised by appellant. Under these circumstances, we hold that appellant specifically and properly preserved his constitutional challenge by filing oral post-verdict motions on the record at the conclusion of trial pursuant *487to Rule 1123(b).5 Accordingly, we reach the merits of appellant’s argument.
In Commonwealth v. Slaybaugh, supra, 468 Pa. at 624, 364 A.2d at 690, our Supreme Court declared that the § 1212 presumption violated the following constitutional rights of a defendant:
“(1) That all men are innocent until ‘proven’ guilty. See Commonwealth v. Bonomo, 396 Pa. 222, 151 A.2d 441 (1959).
“(2) The Fifth Amendment protection not to be compelled to testify when one is a criminal defendant. See Fifth Amendment to U. S. Constitution. See also art. I, § 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, and the Act of May 23,1887, P.L. 158, § 10,19 P.S. § 631 .
“(3) The requirement that the Commonwealth prove every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. See Commonwealth v. Rose, 457 Pa. 380, 321 A.2d 880 (1974).”
Accordingly, the Court reversed a conviction for failing to stop at the scene of an accident because the Commonwealth relied solely on the § 1212 presumption to establish that Slaybaugh operated the offending vehicle.
If Commonwealth v. Slaybaugh applies to cases pending on appeal when it was decided, then Slaybaugh controls the instant case. In Commonwealth v. Cain, 471 Pa. 140, 369 A.2d 1234 (1977), our Supreme Court recently divided sharply over the proper standard to be employed in determining whether a new court interpretation of constitutional law applies to cases pending on appeal at the time of its decision. In Cain, the Commonwealth charged appellant with murder. The trial court refused to instruct the jury on voluntary *488manslaughter. An appeal followed conviction. While Cain’s appeal was pending, our Supreme Court, pursuant to its supervisory powers, announced a prospective rule that in a homicide trial, trial courts must, if requested, charge a jury on voluntary manslaughter, despite the lack of evidence to support such a verdict. Commonwealth v. Jones, 457 Pa. 563, 322 A.2d 119 (1974). Shortly thereafter, a Third Circuit panel held that a trial court’s refusal to give a requested voluntary manslaughter charge in a murder case violated due process. United States ex rel. Matthews v. Johnson, 503 F.2d 339 (3rd Cir. 1974). In United States ex rel. Cannon v. Johnson, 536 F.2d 1013 (3rd Cir. 1976), a Third Circuit panel held that Matthews only governed cases tried after Matthews. Our Supreme Court subsequently confronted Cain’s appeal, and an equally divided court affirmed his conviction.
Justice (now Chief Justice) EAGEN filed an Opinion in Support of Affirmance in which Chief Justice JONES and Justice POMEROY joined. In addressing the issue of the applicability of Matthews to Cain’s appeal, Justice EAGEN considered the following three factors:
“ ‘(a) the purpose to be served by the new standards;
‘(b) the extent of the reliance by law enforcement authorities on the old standards; and
‘(c) the effect on the administration of justice of a retroactive application of the new standards.’
Matthews, supra at 347-8, quoting from [United States v. Zirpolo, 450 F.2d 424, 431-32 (3rd Cir. 1971)]; Linkletter v. Walker, 381 U.S. 618, 85 S.Ct. 1731, 14 L.Ed.2d 601 [1965]. . ..”
In particular, Justice EAGEN, quoting from Cannon, supra at 1016, stressed that “. . . ‘foremost’ consideration should be given ‘to the purpose to be served by the new constitutional rule,’ and the later holding of Williams v. United States, 401 U.S. 646, 653, 91 S.Ct. 1148, 1152, 28 L.Ed.2d 388 (1971), that retroactivity should be accorded *489‘[wjhere the major purpose of new constitutional doctrine is to overcome an aspect of the criminal trial that substantially impairs its truth-finding function and so raises serious questions about the accuracy of guilty verdicts in past trials.’ ” Commonwealth v. Cain, supra, 471 Pa. at 161, 369 A.2d at 1245. (Emphasis in original). Justice EAGEN determined that the rule of Matthews impaired, rather than aided, the jury’s truth-finding function. Moreover past Commonwealth reliance on the old standard and a future burdensome impact on judicial administration militated against applying Matthews to pending appeals. Accordingly, Justice EAGEN refused to apply Matthews to cases tried before the Supreme Court’s decision in Commonwealth v. Jones, supra.6
Justice ROBERTS authored an Opinion in Support of Reversal in which Justices O’BRIEN and MANDERINO joined. Justice ROBERTS stated his belief that a court deciding a case on direct appeal has an obligation to apply the decisional constitutional law as it exists at the time of its judgment and not as it existed at the time of trial. In essence, no question of retroactivity confronted the Court because appellant’s conviction had not yet been “finalized” by the exhaustion of direct appeals. Accordingly, Justice ROBERTS asserted that the three factors considered by Justice EAGEN were inappropriate considerations in determining the applicability of new court made constitutional rules to cases pending on direct appeal. Moreover, Justice EAGEN’S approach would have the inequitable result of according unequal treatment to similarly situated individu*490als. Therefore, Justice ROBERTS would have reversed Cain’s conviction.7
Regardless of whether one applies the standard advocated by Justice EAGEN or that championed by Justice ROBERTS, Slaybaugh controls the instant case. Justice ROBERTS’ approach, of course, automatically requires Slaybaugh’s application. Justice EAGEN’S standard requires that ‘retroactivity’ be accorded “. . . [wjhere the major purpose of new constitutional doctrine is to overcome an aspect of the criminal trial that substantially impairs its truth-finding function and so raises serious questions about the accuracy of guilty verdicts in past trials.” Commonwealth v. Cain, supra, 471 Pa. at 162, 369 A.2d at 1245. (Emphasis in original) In Slaybaugh, our Supreme Court invalidated the § 1212 presumption because, in part, it shifted the burden of proof to a defendant and because it was not logically tenable to assume that an owner of a car necessarily operated the car at the time of a Motor Vehicle Code infraction. In short, the presumption severely compromised the integrity of the fact-finding process and raised serious questions about the accuracy of past guilty verdicts. Under Justice EAGEN’S approach, therefore, Slaybaugh should be applied to the instant case. Because the lower court expressly premised its finding of guilt on the § 1212 presumption, we order appellant discharged.
Assuming that appellant failed to preserve specifically his challenge to the constitutionality of § 1212, we still believe that the Commonwealth failed to produce sufficient evidence to convict appellant of the crimes charged. The Dissenting Opinion concedes that appellant properly pre*491served this contention. Commonwealth v. Slaybaugh quite clearly states that the § 1212 presumption does not alone provide sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that an owner operated his car at the time of a Vehicle Code infraction. Accordingly, we hold that the Commonwealth’s failure to adduce sufficient evidence to identify appellant as the operator of his car on June 22,1975, provides an alternative basis for discharging appellant.
Because the § 1212 presumption is unconstitutional and is not alone sufficient to prove that appellant operated his vehicle in violation of the Motor Vehicle Code, we order appellant discharged.
WATKINS, former President Judge, did not participate in the consideration or decision of this case. PRICE, J., files a dissenting opinion. VAN der VOORT, J., files a Dissenting Opinion in which JACOBS, President Judge, joins.Notes
. The Motor Vehicle Code, Act of April 29, 1959, P.L. 58, § 1212; Act of July 13, 1959, P.L. 534, § 1;
. Rule 1123(c) provides:
“Upon the finding of guilt, the trial judge shall advise the defendant on the record: (1) of his right to file post-verdict motions and of his right to the assistance of counsel in the filing of such motions and on appeal of any issues raised therein; (2) of the time within which he must do so as set forth in paragraph (a); and (3) that only the grounds contained in such motions may be raised on appeal.”
. We note that the trial transcript consumed only nine pages, all devoted to the parties’ discussion of
. Recently, in Commonwealth v. Grace, 473 Pa. 542, 375 A.2d 721 (Filed July 8, 1977), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court indicated a willingness to look beyond the bare wording of post-verdict motions in order to determine if appellant had sufficiently preserved on the record his contention for appellate review. In Grace, the Court held that a written memorandum in support of issues raised in prior post-verdict motions preserved specific contentions because the memorandum assured certainty in the record and guaranteed that appellant actually presented the issues to the lower court. In the instant case, the Application to Quash Indictments, the nine page transcript, and the oral post-verdict motion made on the record at the conclusion of trial all afford the requisite certainty that appellant asserted the unconstitutionality of
. We note that the Dissenting Opinion holds that although appellant did not preserve his constitutional objection, the lower court’s failure to comply with Rule 1123(c) necessitates an evidentiary hearing to determine if appellant waived this contention. However, in Commonwealth v. Brown, 248 Pa.Super. 289, 375 A.2d 102 (1977), our Court recently held that if a lower court does not give Rule 1123(c) warnings and counsel files only boilerplate post-verdict motions in contravention of Commonwealth v. Blair, 460 Pa. 31, 331 A.2d 213 (1975), then a defendant must be given the opportunity to file post-verdict motions nunc pro tunc.
. Justice POMEROY filed a separate Opinion in Support of Affirmance. He stated his belief that “. . . if a constitutional rule has been offended, similarly situated defendants should normally be treated the same unless, in Mr. Justice HARLAN’S phrase there is ‘a principled reason for acting differently.’ Desist v. United States, 394 U.S. 244, 258, 89 S.Ct. 1030, 22 L.Ed.2d 248 .. . (HARLAN, J„ Dissenting)” Commonwealth v. Cain, supra, 471 Pa. at 170, 369 A.2d at 1249. However, Justice POMEROY believed that the decision of the Third Circuit panel in Cannon on a matter of federal constitutional law bound our Supreme Court. Justice POMEROY also emphasized that the Matthews rule did not enhance the reliability of the fact-finding process.
. Justice MANDERINO filed a separate Opinion in Support of Reversal stating his basic agreement with Justice ROBERTS. Justice MANDERINO also analyzed the three factors considered by Justice EAGEN and determined that these factors required the application of the Matthews rule to cases pending on appeal.
While Justice NIX did not participate in Cain, he has subsequently made clear his allegiance to the approach endorsed by Justice EAG-EN. See Commonwealth v. Myles, 471 Pa. 616, 370 A.2d 1193 (1977).
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting:
Appellant’s claim, the unconstitutionality of
Appellant was tried on November 21, 1975. In Commonwealth v. Blair, 460 Pa. 31, 33 n. 1, 331 A.2d 213, 214 n. 1 (1975), announced January 27, 1975, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania stated:
“The practice in some judicial districts of ignoring the requirements of Rule 1123(a) is condemned. Henceforth, issues not presented in compliance with the rule will not be considered by our trial and appellate courts.”
In this case a written motion in arrest of judgment and for a new trial was filed, but it raised only pro forma sufficiency *492of the evidence claims. The constitutional issue in regard to
“We believe that appellant properly preserved his constitutional challenge for appellate review. Our Court has recently held that a defendant may preserve contentions for our consideration by making specific oral post-verdict motions on the record at the conclusion of trial pursuant to Rule 1123(b). Commonwealth v. Erhart, 248 Pa.Super. 481, 375 A.2d 342 (Filed June 29, 1977); Commonwealth v. Kinsey, 249 Pa.Super. 371, 375 A.2d 727 (Filed June 29, 1977); Commonwealth v. Babb, 246 Pa.Super. 471, 371 A.2d 933 (Filed March 31, 1977). In the instant case, all pre-trial, trial, and post-trial proceedings focussed exclusively on one issue; the constitutionality of the§ 1212 presumption. Indeed, the commonwealth and appellant stipulated that this was the only issue involved in the case. After a thorough discussion of the constitutionality of the presumption at trial, the lower court explicitly predicated its guilty verdict upon the operation of the presumption. *493Appellant’s counsel immediately filed a motion for a new trial and arrest of judgment; the record makes patently clear that this motion could only refer to appellant’s challenge to the constitutionality of the§ 1212 presumption. The lower court accepted the filing of this motion and responded with a thorough opinion on the issue raised by appellant. Under these circumstances, I would hold that appellant specifically and properly preserved his constitutional challenge by filing oral post-verdict motions on the record at the conclusion of trial pursuant to Rule 1123(b).” (Plurality Opn. of Hoffman, J. at 332).
I disagree with the above-stated conclusion. The following dialogue between defense counsel and the court occurred at the end of the trial proceeding.
“[Appellant’s counsel]: The defense, at this time, would enter a motion for new trial and arrest of judgment.
THE COURT: I direct you not only to file the motions in writing within seven days but get that stipulation signed before you forget about it, the waiver of jury trial.” First, it is apparent that the “oral post-verdict motion” made by appellant’s counsel stated no ground upon which relief might have been granted. It was nothing more than a barren, totally unsupported request. Judge Hoffman suggests that we import into appellant’s oral motion the substance of the discussion between appellant’s counsel and the lower court concerning the constitutionality of
Another consideration mandates a finding that appellant’s oral motion was ineffective. The trial court directed appellant’s counsel to “file the motions in writing within seven days.” Read in context, this statement instructed counsel to *494reduce to writing the issues he intended to be covered by his oral motion. In compliance with this directive, written motions were filed challenging only the sufficiency of the evidence. Even if we assume that a party’s inferred intent in making an oral post-trial motion is cognizable on appeal, which it is not, any assertion that appellant’s counsel intended the constitutional issue to be covered by his oral motion is directly contradicted by counsel’s conduct.
Judge Van der Voort, on the authority of Commonwealth v. Schroth, 458 Pa. 233, 328 A.2d 168 (1974), would remand this case for a hearing to determine the voluntariness of appellant’s failure to preserve his constitutional claim in post-trial motions. I disagree with this disposition in two respects. First, I do not believe that the voluntariness of appellant’s failure to file post-trial motions or the trial court’s failure to comply with
There is support for the position that this court must conduct a sua sponte review of the record for lower court compliance with
In Wiegand v. Wiegand, 461 Pa. 482, 337 A.2d 256 (1975), our supreme court reversed the prior order of the superior court and strongly criticized that court’s decision of a constitutional issue not presented by the parties on appeal. The court observed as follows:
“The Superior Court by sua sponte deciding the constitutional issue exceeded its proper appellate function of deciding controversies presented to it. The court thereby unnecessarily disturbed the processes of orderly judicial decisionmaking. Sua sponte consideration of issues deprives counsel of the opportunity to brief and argue the issues and the court of the benefit of counsel’s advocacy. . Furthermore, sua sponte determinations raise many of the considerations that led this court to require that issues presented on appeal be properly preserved for appellate review by timely objection in the trial court. See Dilliplaine v. Lehigh Valley Trust Co., 457 Pa. 255, 322 A.2d 114 (1974); cf. Commonwealth v. Clair, 458 Pa. 418, 326 A.2d 272 (1974).
It must therefore be concluded that the Superior Court should not have considered an unpresented issue, but instead resolved the appeal on the basis of the issues raised by the parties.” Wiegand v. Wiegand, supra, 461 Pa. at 485, 337 A.2d at 257-58.
The supreme court has recently cited Wiegand in a per curiam order reversing the superior court and remanding the case to us “for consideration of the issues properly preserved for appellate review.” Commonwealth v. James Dill (8/8/77).
This philosophy is also expressed in the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure. Rule 2116(c) provides, inter alia, the following:
*496“Where under the applicable law an issue is not reviewable on appeal unless raised or preserved below; the statement of the case shall also specify:
(1) The stage of the proceedings in the court of first instance, and in any appellate court below, at which, and the manner in which, the questions sought to be reviewed were raised.
(2) The method of raising them (e. g. by a pleading, by a request to charge and exceptions, etc.).
(3) The say in which they were passed upon by the court.
. ” See alsoPa.R.A.P. 2118(e) .
The voluntariness of a failure to file post-verdict motions has not been uniformly subjected to sua sponte review by the appellate courts of this state. In Commonwealth v. Carter, 463 Pa. 310, 313 n. 4, 344 A.2d 846, 848 n. 4 (1975), the supreme court stated that “[t]he question whether a waiver of post-verdict motions was voluntary and intelligent will be considered by appellate courts if it was raised at the earliest opportunity on appeal; otherwise, that question itself is waived. See Commonwealth v. Jones, 460 Pa. 713, 334 A.2d 601 (1975).” In Carter, this court had granted the appellant a new trial on the basis of an ineffective jury trial waiver. No post-verdict motions had been filed. The supreme court reversed our order because the jury trial waiver issue had not been properly before us.
In Commonwealth v. Brown, supra, it was pointed out that Carter and several other cases which found claims not raised in post-trial motions waived were decided prior to the 1973 amendment of
In conclusion, I would point out that we are sorely in need of a clear standard in this area. There are cases from the supreme court and from this court engaging in sua sponte review of the Rule 1123 or voluntariness issue. Some cases, e. g. Commonwealth v. Schroth, supra, and Commonwealth v. Brown, supra, may be read to mandate such a procedure. Other cases support a contrary result, a result which I feel reason indicates and proper appellate procedure dictates. Criminal justice in this Commonwealth is supposed to function on an adversary basis. A criminal defendant is entitled to competent and zealous, but not perfect, representation. This court’s proper role is as the impartial arbiter of issues presented to it on appeal, not as the big brother of criminal defendants or the mentor of defense attorneys. If we indulge in sua sponte review on the topic involved here, I fear we will be forsaking the former position and taking a step closer to the latter ones.
*498I would affirm the judgment of sentence of the lower court.
.
“Within seven (7) days after a finding of guilt, the defendant shall have the right to file written motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment. Only those grounds may be considered which were raised in pre-trial proceedings or at trial, unless the trial judge, upon cause shown, allows otherwise. Argument shall be scheduled and heard promptly after such motions are filed, and only those issues raised and the grounds relied upon in the motions may be argued. If the grounds asserted do not require a transcript, neither the filing nor argument of post-verdict motions shall be delayed for lack of a transcript of the notes of testimony.”
.
“If the defendant agrees on the record, the post-verdict motions may be made orally at the conclusion of the trial. The defendant may also within the seven (7)-day period on the record voluntarily and understanding^ waive the filing of post-verdict motions. Pri- or to the acceptance of such waiver the trial judge shall, pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Rule, advise the defendant on the record that his waiving of post-verdict motions shall preclude his raising on appeal any issues which might have been raised in such motions.”
.
“Upon the finding of guilty, the trial judge shall advise the defendant on the record: (1) of his right to file post-verdict motions and of his right to the assistance of counsel in the filing of such motions and on appeal of any issues raised therein; (2) of the time within which he must do so as set forth in paragraph (a); and (3) that only the grounds contained in such motions may be raised on appeal.”
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting:
On June 22, 1975, Pennsylvania State Police observed several drag races on a public highway in Lancaster County. The police officers noted the license number of a car which was later traced to appellant Roger D. Leaman. Appellant was charged with three counts of drag racing and with several other traffic offenses. On November 7, 1975, appellant filed an Application to Quash Indictments, arguing the unconstitutionality of
Appellant raises what would appear to be a meritorious argument, the unconstitutionality of
In the case before us, the lower court found appellant guilty, indicating that its decision was based on
In Commonwealth v. Miller, 469 Pa. 370, 366 A.2d 220 (1976) and Commonwealth v. Williams, 459 Pa. 589, 330 A.2d *500854 (1975), our Supreme Court determined from the record that the defendants had most likely been misled by the lower court and therefore could not have knowingly and intelligently waived their appeal rights. In both cases, the Supreme Court remanded for filing of post-trial motions nunc pro tunc. In Schroth and in Commonwealth v. Tate, 464 Pa. 25, 346 A.2d 1 (1975), the Supreme Court was unable to determine from the record whether or not the appellants had knowingly and intelligently waived the right to file post-verdict motions. In these cases, the Supreme Court remanded for a determination of whether or not the waiver was knowing and intelligent. Since there exists an inability to determine whether or not appellant in the case before us knowingly and intelligently waived his appeal rights, in accordance with Schroth and Tate I would remand this case to the lower court. If the lower court determined that appellant did not knowingly and intelligently waive the issue of the unconstitutionality of
. Act of April 29, 1959, P.L. 58,
. The Commonwealth concedes in the one sentence brief filed with our Court that appellant should be discharged.
. In his Opinion JUDGE HOFFMAN states that he believes “that the Commonwealth failed to produce sufficient evidence to convict appellant of the crimes charged.” This assertion is contrary to the stipulation made by both parties that the Commonwealth has in fact made out prima facie cases and the defendant offered no evidence.
. See Commonwealth v. Bailey, 463 Pa. 354, 344 A.2d 869 (1975); Commonwealth v. Terry, 462 Pa. 595, 602, n.3, 342 A.2d 92 (1975); Commonwealth v. Fortune, 464 Pa. 367, 371, n.4, 346 A.2d 783 (1975). See Henry v. Mississippi, 379 U.S. 443, 85 S.Ct. 564, 13 L.Ed.2d 408 (1965), on the right of the state courts to require strict compliance with state procedural rules.