Commonwealth v. Coleman, D., Aplt

[J-21-2022] [MO: Brobson, J.]
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
WESTERN DISTRICT
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, : No. 19 WAP 2021
:
Appellee : Appeal from the Order of the Superior Court
: entered February 9, 2021 at No. 938 WDA
: 2019, affirming in part and vacating in part
v. : the Judgment of Sentence of the Court of
: Common Pleas of Allegheny County
: entered June 5, 2019 at No. CP-02-CR-
DEMETRIUS CARLOS COLEMAN, : 0004460-2017, and remanding.
:
Appellant : ARGUED: April 12, 2022
:
:
CONCURRING OPINION
JUSTICE DONOHUE DECIDED: NOVEMBER 23, 2022
I concur in the result reached by the Majority, and I agree with its conclusion that
42 Pa.C.S. § 9715 is unambiguous. Further, I agree with the Majority’s construction of
the terms “previously” and “at any time,” as they are used in the phrase “previously been
convicted at any time” in Subsection (a). I write separately, however, as I would conclude
that Section 9715 is unambiguous on different grounds than the Majority. To my reading,
Section 9715’s lack of ambiguity can be resolved through the meaning of the word
“convicted” as it is used in that section. In reviewing the plain language of Section 9715
and this Court’s own case law, the word “convicted” and “convictions,” as they are used
in Section 9715, connote a finding of guilt and not a judgment of sentence.
The Majority relies upon the following dictionary definition of “convicted” in its
construction of Section 9715: “to find or declare guilty of an offense or crime by the verdict
or decision of a court or other authority.” Majority Op. at 12-13 (quoting W EBSTER’S THIRD
NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 1798 (3d ed. 1993)). The Majority’s analysis on this point
ignores the historical tension between the competing definitions that this Court has
applied to the terms “convicted” and “convictions,” a tension that has been highlighted by
the Majority and the Dissent in their respective interpretations of the phrase “complete
record of the previous convictions.” Majority Op. at 17-19; Dissenting Op. at 7-11 (Wecht,
J., dissenting). I do not believe that we should rely on the dictionary definition of
“convicted” when this Court’s own case law resolves the tension in favor of finding the
statute unambiguous.
Over the years, this Court has attributed to the word “convicted” and its various
permutations (e.g., “conviction”) a “popular” as well as a “technical” meaning. The
“popular” meaning of “convicted” refers to a guilty verdict. See Wilmoth v. Hensel, 25 A.
86, 91 (Pa. 1892); York Cnty. v. Dalhousen, 45 Pa. 372, 374 (Pa. 1863); See also
Commonwealth v. Thompson, 106 A.3d 742, 766-68 (Pa. Super. 2014) (Bowes, J.,
concurring) (discussing the distinction and development of the “popular” and “technical”
definitions of the term “convicted”). In other instances, this Court has applied a “technical”
meaning to “convicted,” which has been understood as a judgment or sentence upon the
finding of guilt. See Commonwealth ex rel. McClenachan v. Reading, 6 A.2d 776, 777-
78 (Pa. 1939); Shields v. Westmoreland Cnty., 98 A. 572, 573 (Pa. 1916). In the past,
this Court acknowledged that the “technical” meaning should be applied except where the
statutory language demonstrates a contrary intent. Commonwealth v. Minnich, 95 A. 565,
567 (Pa. 1915); Reading, 6 A.2d at 778. Section 9715 is one such instance in which the
plain language clearly indicates that we cannot apply the “technical” meaning to
“convicted,” and thus we are left to apply its “popular” meaning. This is not a novel
concept and is in line with our principles of statutory construction. This Court arrived at a
similar conclusion in Commonwealth v. Beasley, 479 A.2d 460 (Pa. 1984), when
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addressing the meaning of “conviction” in the context of an aggravating circumstance in
a death penalty case.
In Beasley, the defendant murdered Keith Singleton and fled from the scene,
avoiding apprehension for a time. Id. at 461. A few months later, he committed another
murder of a police officer and was caught shortly thereafter. Id. While in custody for the
police shooting, it was determined that Beasley had committed the murder of Singleton
and was charged accordingly. Id. For the murder of the police officer, Beasley was
brought to trial and convicted. Id. (citing Commonwealth v. Beasley, 475 A.2d 730 (Pa.
1984)). After being convicted for the police killing but prior to receiving a judgment of
sentence in that case, Beasley was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of
Singleton. Id. at 464. In determining this sentence, the jury considered the proven
aggravating circumstances, pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711, including Beasley’s
“significant history of felony convictions involving the use or threat of violence to the
person.” Id. (citing 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(d)(9)). Beasley argued that consideration of his
conviction for the police killing was improper because “a verdict of guilt may not be
considered a prior ‘conviction,’ constituting an aggravating circumstance … until a
judgment of sentence has been entered.” Id. This Court disagreed.
The Beasley Court noted that in Commonwealth v. Travaglia, 467 A.2d 288 (Pa.
1983), we held that “a judgment of sentence need not already have been entered
following a finding of guilt in order for the finding to be considered as a conviction
constituting the aggravating circumstance in [42 Pa.C.S. § 9711](d)(10),” thereby
ascertaining that the General Assembly had applied the “popular” meaning to “conviction”
as it was used in Section 9711(d)(10). Beasley, 479 A.2d at 464. The Beasley Court saw
no reason to accord two inconsistent meanings to the word “conviction” in “consecutively
[J-21-2022] [MO: Brobson, J.] - 3
enumerated provisions” and ultimately applied the “popular” meaning to “conviction,” i.e.,
“found guilty” rather than “found guilty and sentenced.” Id.
A similar rationale can be applied to the language of Section 9715 in the instant
matter. Subsection (a) applies to “any person convicted of murder of the third degree in
this Commonwealth who has previously been convicted at any time of murder or
voluntary manslaughter,” and its application is unquestionably to be determined at
sentencing, pursuant to Subsection (b). 42 Pa.C.S. § 9715(a)-(b) (emphasis added). It
would be completely illogical to apply the “technical” meaning to “convicted” as it is used
in Section 9715. Under the “technical” sense, a person could never be considered
“convicted” prior to sentencing because the “technical” definition requires the imposition
of a sentence. Applying the “technical” definition would yield an impossible result in
Subsection (a), and we must presume that the General Assembly does not intend a result
that is absurd, impossible of execution or unreasonable. 1 Pa.C.S. § 1922(1).1
Accordingly, the “popular” meaning is the only interpretation that offers a workable and
consistent definition of “convicted” as it used in Section 9715, at least with respect to
Subsection (a).
The Dissent suggests that this Court should apply the “technical” definition in
Subsection (b), as is apparent from its contention that a “complete record of the previous
convictions” must “[a]t the very minimum … contain a final judgment of sentence[.]”
Dissenting Op. at 8 (Wecht, J., dissenting). Although the Dissent is focused on the
standalone meaning of “complete record,” it is impossible to ascertain this meaning
1 There exists the presumption that the legislature is aware of our prior decisional law
when crafting statutory language, and thus I would presume that the General Assembly
was aware of the historical treatment and distinction between the “popular” and “technical”
meaning of the word “convicted” when it drafted Section 9715. See, e.g., City of Phila. v.
Clement & Muller, Inc., 715 A.2d 397, 399 (Pa. 1998) (“The legislature is presumed to be
aware of the construction placed upon statutes by the courts[.]”).
[J-21-2022] [MO: Brobson, J.] - 4
without acknowledging what it is a complete record of—convictions. Subsection (a) is
undoubtedly relying on the “popular” definition of “convicted.” Thus, the Dissent’s
proposed meaning of “conviction” in Subsection (b) would require that we read “convicted”
under its “popular” meaning in Subsection (a), and its “technical” meaning in Subsection
(b). This inconsistent reading of “convicted” in the same statute cannot be what the
General Assembly intended.2 See Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC v. Lindsay, 185 A.3d
307, 313 (Pa. 2018) (“[S]tatutory interpretative principles also require that where the
meaning of a word or phrase is clear when used in one section of a statute, it will be
construed to have the same meaning in another section of the same statute.”). These
two consecutive provisions must take on the same meaning of “convicted,” which is
“‘found guilty’ rather than ‘found guilty and sentenced.’” Beasley, 479 A.2d at 464.
Accordingly, “convicted” as it is used throughout Section 9715 is employing its
“popular” definition. With this meaning in mind, the phrase a “complete record of the
previous convictions,” as it is used in Subsection (b), suggests that a record of the
previous finding of guilt was intended for compliance with Section 9715. Construing the
plain meaning of “convicted” as such resolves any remaining question in favor of finding
Section 9715 unambiguous.
For the above reasons, I concur in the Majority’s result, but I would conclude that
Section 9715 is unambiguous on different grounds.
2 While I recognize that Subsection (a) uses the word “convicted” and Subsection (b)
uses the word “convictions,” to read those two words differently and prescribe inconsistent
meanings would only serve to create an unnecessary ambiguity.
[J-21-2022] [MO: Brobson, J.] - 5