In Re: Brewster, D., Appeal of: Brewster, D.

J-S63003-19
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN RE: DAVID LOVELL BREWSTER : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
:
APPEAL OF: DAVID LOVELL :
BREWSTER : No. 1082 EDA 2019
Appeal from the Order Entered March 22, 2019
In the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County
Civil Division at No(s): January Term, 2019, NO. 704
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J.E., MURRAY, J., and STRASSBURGER, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.E.: FILED DECEMBER 03, 2019
Appellant, David Lovell Brewster, appeals from the order entered in the
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, which denied his petition for
name change. We affirm.
The trial court opinion set forth the relevant facts and procedural history
of this case. Therefore, we have no reason to restate them.
Appellant raises the following issue for our review:
WHETHER THE [TRIAL] COURT ERRED WHEN IT REFUSED
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LIBERTIES INVOKED BY THE FIRST
AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
BEING IN A PREFERRED POSITION TO THE STATUTORY
PROVISION USED TO DENY APPELLANT.
(Appellant’s Brief at 8).
After a thorough review of the record, Appellant’s brief, the applicable
law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable Edward C. Wright, we
____________________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S63003-19
conclude Appellant’s issue merits no relief. The trial court opinion
comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the question presented.
(See Trial Court Opinion, filed May 21, 2019, at 2-3) (finding: Appellant was
on county probation and state parole at time of hearing on his petition for
name change; court properly denied petition under 54 Pa.C.S.A. § 702(c),
which prohibits name change when person is subject to probation or parole;
Appellant waived any issue concerning trial court’s alleged conflict of interest,
for failure to raise that claim at hearing). Accordingly, we affirm on the basis
of the trial court’s opinion.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 12/3/19
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Circulated 11/18/2019 10:51 AM
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF PHILADELPHIA COUNTY
FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
TRIAL DIVISION - CIVIL
IN RE: DAVID LOVELL 1082 EDA 2019
BREWSTER
Lower Court No. 190100704
APPEAL OF : DAVID LOVELL BREWSTER
OPINION
David Lovell Brewster ("Appellant") appeals from the trial court's March 22, 2019, order
denying Petitioner's Petition for Change of Name.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On January ll , 2019, Appellant filed a Petition for Change of Name. On March 22, 2019,
a hearing was held on Appellant's Name Change Petition. Appellant sought to change his name
from "David Lovell Brewster" to "david brewster (YHWH)" pursuant to 54 Pa. C.S.A. §701. On
March 22, 2019, the trial court denied the petition, given that at the time of the hearing Appellant
was subject to the parole jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. 54 Pa.
C.S. §702(c)(l).
On April 3, 2019, Appellant timely filed a Notice of Appeal to the Pennsylvania Superior
Court ("Superior Court"), which appeal Superior Court docketed at 1082 EDA 2019. On April
24, 2019, the trial court ordered Appellant to file a concise statement of errors complained of on
appeal pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. l 925(b). On May 2, 2019, Appellant timely filed a ��dse,._._,
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DISCUSSION
On appeal, Appellant claims: (A) that the trial court circumscribed Petitioner's Federal
Constitutional Rights by denying his Name Change Petition; and, (B) that the trial court had a
conflict of interest in the underlying Name Change Petition.
I. Petitioner's Claim That The Trial Court Circumscribed Petitioner's Federal
Constitutional Rights By Denying His Name Change Petition Is Unsupported As
The Trial Court Was Merely Complying With 54 Pa. C.S. §702(c)
The sole function of a name in Pennsylvania is to identify the person whom it is intended
to designate. Department of Public Assistance of Com. of Pa. v. Reustle, 358 Pa. 111, 56 A.2d
221 ( 1948). Pennsylvania statute codifies the common law by providing for formal change of
name judicial proceedings. 54 Pa. C.S. §701 et seq.; In re Benner by Cassidy, 516 A.2d 59 (Pa.
Super. 1986). Pennsylvania places limitations on name changes by convicted felons. 54 Pa. C.S.
§70l(b), 702(c). 54 Pa. C.S. §702, entitled "Change by order of court," provides, in pertinent
part:
(c) Convicted felons.--
( 1) The court may order a change of name for a person convicted of a felony,
subject to provisions of paragraph (2), if:
(i) at least two calendar years have elapsed from the date of completion of
a person's sentence and that person is not subject to the probation or
parole jurisdiction of any court, county probation agency or the
Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole;
See 54 Pa.C.S. §702(c)(l)(i) (emphasis added).
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On March 22, 2019, a hearing was held on Appellant's Name Change Petition. At the
aforementioned hearing the trial court questioned Appellant about his criminal history and the
following exchange took place:
THE COURT: All right. Your criminal history -- I want to jump right to the constraints
regarding the name change as it relates to the criminal history; make sure you qualify.
am guessing you're no longer incarcerated; no longer serving.
MR. BREWSTER: I'm currently on County probation and State parole.
See March 22, 2019, Certified Record at 3-4�.
As Appellant was subject to both Philadelphia County and Pennsylvania State Parole at
the time of the hearing, the trial court properly denied the Petition pursuant to 54 Pa. C.S.
§702(c).
II. Petitioner's Claim That The Trial Court Had A Conflict Of Interest In The
Underlying Name Change Petition Was Not Argued At TriaJ And Was
Therefore Waived On Appeal
Generally, a party must raise an issue before the trial court before they are able to raise it
on appeal. Pa. R.A.P. 302(a); Commonwealth v. Mason, 130 A.3d 601, 639 n.47 (Pa. 2015)
("(A] l 925(b) statement can ... never be used to raise a claim in the first instance."); Stange v.
Janssen Pharm., Inc., 179 A.3d 45, 63-64 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018) (finding that the issues not raised
in motions before the trial court to be waived on appeal). In other words, if a party does not raise
an issue before the trial court, then the party waives their right to raise that issue on appeal. Id.;
Mason, 130 A.3d at 639 n.47; Stange 179 A.3d at 63-64. Here, Petitioner waived the issue of the
trial court's supposed conflict of interest on appeal as he failed to raise the issue at the
underlying hearing.
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CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, the Superior Court should affirm the trial court's
decision.
BY THE COURT:
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