Pennsylvania v. Ali

The Supreme Court granted discretionary review to determine the propriety of a trial court considering victim impact evidence at a sentencing proceeding where the offenses at issue were not crimes against a person. The Superior Court held, as a matter of law, such evidence was irrelevant and inadmissible at sentencing under such circumstances, the trial court therefore abused its discretion, and resentencing was required. The Supreme Court disagreed with this broad holding and, in particular, the construction of 42 Pa.C.S. Section 9738 as a provision circumscribing evidentiary relevance at sentencing. Accordingly, the Court vacated the Superior Court's order and remanded for resentencing. View "Pennsylvania v. Ali" on Justia Law