IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
EASTERN DISTRICT
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, : No. 59 EM 2018
:
Respondent :
:
:
v. :
:
:
ROBERT WILLIAMS, :
:
Petitioner :
DISSENTING STATEMENT
JUSTICE BAER FILED: June 12, 2018
I dissent from the Court’s order denying Robert Williams’ Emergency Application
for King’s Bench Jurisdiction and would grant the requested relief of reassignment to
President Judge Shelia Woods-Skipper. I believe Judge Genece Brinkley should have
disqualified herself pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 903(C) (providing PCRA trial judge should
disqualify themselves in the interests of justice) as her continued involvement has created
an appearance of impropriety that tends to undermine public confidence in the judiciary.
See Commonwealth v. White, 910 A.2d 648, 657 (Pa. 2006) (explaining that, even in
those instances where a jurist can impartially consider a case, the judge must also
consider whether his or her continued involvement “creates an appearance of impropriety
and/or would tend to undermine public confidence in the judiciary”).
Justice Todd joins this dissenting statement.
Justice Donohue joins this dissenting statement.