Opinion

Margiotti Appeal

  • 365 Pa. 330
  • 75 A.2d 465
  • 1950 Pa. LEXIS 461
Court
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Filed
Aug 31, 1950
Status
Published
Author
Ladner
On the bench
Stern, Ladner, Deew, Steen, Steaene, Jones, Bell, Ladnee
Cited by
28 cases
Authority
More cited than 8.7%

The opinion

Dissenting Opinion by

Mr. Justice Ladner:

I cannot agree with the majority opinion in its holding that the court below erred and should be re *351 versed. It seems to me that when the attorney general asserts his high prerogative, and his assertion of it is challenged, the burden is on him to justify his act of supersession, see Com. ex rel. v. Philadelphia, 176 Pa. 588 , 35 A. 1135 (1896). This is not a case where the district attorney refused or even failed to act. The district attorney had in fact acted and was proceeding apparently with reasonable diligence when he was superseded without being given an opportunity to show his good faith or sincerity.

In a case such as this much reliance ought to be placed on the good judgment of the court below, because it is in a far better position to know the calibre, ability and sincerity of the district attorney, as well as the relevant surrounding circumstances of the case, than we, who have before us only the cold record. The court below has, in its opinion, carefully considered, analyzed, and I think satisfactorily disposed of all the reasons advanced by the learned attorney general in justification of his order of supersession.

I would therefore affirm the decision appealed from.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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