Commonwealth v. Suplee

¶1Appellant was convicted of violating § 3234 of the Pennsylvania Election Code.1 On this appeal he contends that the lower court should have granted his motion in arrest of judgment because the statute under which he was convicted does not apply to his conduct, namely, placing an advertisement in reply to an opponent’s advertisement without first giving notice to the opponent. We agree and therefore reverse.2

¶2Appellant was Chairman of the Committee to Elect James R. Hanlon, Republican candidate for Township Supervisor of Upper Providence, Pennsylvania, in an election scheduled for November 4, 1975. On Wednesday, October 29, 1975, supporters of the Democratic candidate, Larry D’Antonio, ran an advertisement critical of Hanlon in Towntalk Newspaper, a weekly publication. No prior notice was given to Hanlon that this advertisement was to be run.

¶3*353On the day that the advertisement appeared, Hanlon authorized his Committee to run an advertisement in reply. This reply advertisement3 was placed with the Delaware County Daily Times on Friday, October 31, and was run on Monday, November 3, without prior notice to D’Antonio.

¶4A week after the election, one of D’Antonio’s supporters filed a private criminal complaint charging that by failing to notify D’Antonio of the reply advertisement before it was published Hanlon and appellant had violated § 3234. Following a finding of guilt in a summary proceeding before a District Magistrate, appellant took an appeal to the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas. The case was submitted on stipulated facts, and on April 9, 1976, the lower court found appellant guilty as charged. Post-verdict motions were denied, and appellant was sentenced to pay a fine of $1.00 and costs of prosecution. This appeal followed.

¶5§ 3234 of the Election Code provides, in pertinent part:

(a) No candidate for public office, ... or party acting on his behalf, shall place any advertisement referring to an opposing candidate . . . to be . published during the forty-eight hours immediately prior to an election or published in a weekly newspaper or periodical during the eight days immediately prior to an election . . . unless he has first given a copy . and reasonable notice to the opposing candidate and the County Board of Elections ... in sufficient time for a reply advertisement to be published ... at the same approximate time or in the same issue of the publication ... as the original advertisement and prior to the election. .

(b) The reasonable notice referred to in subsection (a) shall be given in writing by registered mail

¶6Thus, the Code contemplates three steps: 1) the preparation of an “advertisement”; 2) registered mail notice “to the *354opposing candidate”; and 3) delivery of the notice “in sufficient time for a reply advertisement to be published . at the same approximate time or in the same issue of the publication ... as the original advertisement and prior to the election.” It is only notice of the “advertisement” that is required.

¶7The purpose of requiring notice of the advertisement is to enable an opposing candidate to prepare and have published a reply advertisement. To read “advertisement” and “reply advertisement” as meaning the same thing, as the lower court did, would create a procedure that a candidate might not be able to comply with, and that in any case would be contrary to the purpose of the statute.

¶8Suppose A is running against B. On Saturday, four days before election, A sends B registered mail notice of an advertisement to run on Monday (i. e., “during the forty-eight hours immediately prior to [the] election”). B receives the notice on Monday, just in time to prepare his reply advertisement to run in later editions of the Monday paper (i. e., “at the same approximate time or in the same issue of the publication ... as the original advertisement”). However, according to the lower court’s reading of the statute, before B may run his reply he must send A notice of his intent to do so. B obeys subsection (b)4 and sends this notice by registered mail; A will receive it on Tuesday at the earliest, which will be too late for A to run a reply to B’s reply “at the same approximate time or in the same issue of the publication ... as the original advertisement and prior to the election.”

¶9Thus, the difficulty with the lower court’s reading of the statute is that it envisions an infinite series of notices and counter-notices, whereas the statute envisions a finite series, limited by the terminus of Election Day. The consequence of requiring a series of notices and counter-notices would be *355to present B with an unpleasant choice: either to run his reply on Monday and face criminal penalties, or to refrain from running it. Both alternatives would be contrary to the intent of the statute, which is to ensure that a candidate in B’s position has an opportunity to reply to A’s advertisement. In these circumstances, we are guided by § 1922 of the Statutory Construction Act,5 which states, in pertinent part:

In ascertaining the intention of the General Assembly in the enactment of a statute the following presumptions, among others, may be used:

(1) That the General Assembly does not intend a result that is absurd, impossible of execution or unreasonable.

¶10The judgment of sentence is vacated, and appellant discharged.

¶16concurring:

¶17Appellant contends that the lower court erred in refusing to grant his motion in arrest of judgment for a violation of § 3234 of the Pennsylvania Election Code1 because the *356terms of the statute do not proscribe his conduct and because the statute unconstitutionally restricts his First Amendment rights. I agree and, therefore, concur.

¶18The parties stipulated to the following facts. On Novemwas to hold ejections for Township Supervisor. James R. was to hold elections for Township Supervisor, James R. Hanlon was the Republican candidate for Supervisor and appellant was the Chairman of the Committee to Elect James R. Hanlon. Larry D’Antonio, the Democratic candidate for Supervisor, was Hanlon’s opponent. On Wednesday, October 29, 1975, certain supporters of D’Antonio, un*357der the name of Republicans for D’Antonio, placed a commercial advertisement in Towntalk newspaper,2 a weekly *358publication, without notifying Hanlon. The advertisement specifically referred to statements of candidate Hanlon and urged support for D’Antonio. In addition, the advertisement stated that “Republicans for D’Antonio Committee” had paid for it. On the same day that the above advertisement appeared, Hanlon authorized his Committee to print a reply advertisement which it placed with the Delaware County Daily Times on Friday, October 31, 1975,3 and which appeared on Monday, November 3, 1975.

¶19*359The reply advertisement, entitled “A Statement From Your Supervisor, James R. Hanlon,” discussed the Democratic candidate’s claims regarding fiscal affairs in the Township. Although the reply advertisement appeared within the 48 hour period before the election, Hanlon’s Committee did not give prior notice of the reply to Hanlon’s opponent.

¶20*360One week after the election, one of D’Antonio’s supporters filed a private criminal complaint alleging that Hanlon and appellant had violated § 3234 of the Election Code by failing to notify D’Antonio of the placement of the reply advertisement before the date of its publication. After a hearing in December, 1975, a District Magistrate found appellant guilty. Appellant filed an appeal with the Common Pleas Court of Delaware County; the parties submitted the case upon a stipulated set of facts. On April 9, 1976, the lower court found appellant guilty of violating the Election Code and following the denial of post-verdict motions, sentenced him to pay $1.00 and the costs of prosecution. This appeal followed.

¶21I

¶22Appellant’s first contention is that § 3234 of the Election Code does not apply to reply advertisements. I agree. By its own terms, § 3234 is a penal statute.4 Our courts have long recognized that we must construe penal statutes strictly to avoid the inclusion of otherwise lawful acts not within the statute’s plain meaning. Commonwealth v. Glover, 397 Pa. 543, 156 A.2d 114 (1960); Commonwealth v. Teada, 235 Pa.Super. 438, 344 A.2d 682 (1975); Pennsylvania Statutory Construction Act, Act of November 25, 1970, P.L. 707, No. 230, added December 6, 1972, No. 290, § 3; 1 Pa.C.S. § 1928(b). Moreover, our courts have held that while remedial portions of election laws require liberal interpretation in order to effectuate the legislature’s intent, we must narrowly construe the penal provisions of such statutes. In re Petition of Wilhelm, 111 Pa.Super. 133, 169 A. 456 (1933); In re Bechtel’s Election Expenses, 39 Pa.Super. 292 (1909). See also, Laub’s Expense Account, 145 Pa.Super. 513, 21 A.2d 575 (1941) (Dissenting Opinion by BARTHOLD, J.). Finally, our courts are obliged to construe strictly statutes that regulate the First Amendment rights of expression and *361association. Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1, 196 S.Ct. 612, 46 L.Ed.2d 659 (1976); Main Road v. Aytch, 522 F.2d 1080 (3d Cir. 1975); People’s Party v. Tucker, 347 F.Supp. 1 (M.D.Pa. 1972); Corporation of Haverford College v. Reeher, 329 F.Supp. 1196 (E.D.Pa.1971); William Goldman Theatres v. Dana, 405 Pa. 83, 173 A.2d 59 (1961); cert. denied, 368 U.S. 897, 82 S.Ct. 174, 7 L.Ed.2d 93 (1961).

¶23In the instant case, the challenged election statute is clearly penal and forbids the placement of political advertisements within 48 hours of an election unless notice is sent to the candidate’s opponent. Further, the statute provides for summary conviction and possible imprisonment. Section 3234 refers only to initial advertisements and does not explicitly include reply advertisements within its prohibition.

¶24Appellant’s statutory contention also focuses on the legislature’s intent in enacting § 3234. As appellant observes, the conceded purpose of the statute is to provide an opportunity for the candidate mentioned in the first advertisement to reply to last minute scurrilous attacks. Because the statute contemplates a reply,5 it would further no practical purpose to require notice of that reply. On the contrary, compliance with such a requirement might actually result in perpetual frustration of the legislature’s intent. Thus, each candidate might attempt to be the last person publishing the last possible advertisement for which notice could be given in order to prevent an opponent from giving notice and publishing a reply within the prohibited 48 hour period. Consequently, political debate might be abruptly curtailed at the most crucial point in the election process. Because the *362legislature could not have intended such a stifling result and because our courts cannot broadly interpret a penal statute, I believe that § 3234 does not require notice of publication of reply advertisements.

¶25II

¶26Appellant’s second contention is that § 3234 is unconstitutionally vague and thus discourages the exercise of First Amendment rights. Assuming that the statute includes reply advertisements within its prohibition, § 3234 is, nevertheless, an unconstitutional infringement of First Amendment right. By conditioning the placement of political advertisements within the last 48 hours of an election on proper notice, the statute discourages political advertisements and criminally penalizes that form of protected First Amendment activity.

¶27The First Amendment freedoms of expression and association have long occupied a protected position in our jurisprudence. Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1, 96 S.Ct. 612, 46 L.Ed.2d 659 (1976); Mills v. State of Alabama, 384 U.S. 214, 86 S.Ct. 1434, 16 L.Ed.2d 484 (1966); N.Y. Times v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 84 S.Ct. 710, 11 L.Ed.2d 686 (1964). “Whatever the explanation for the ascendancy of the First Amendment protection, courts have remained particularly sensitive to government regulation that tends to impinge on expressive freedom.” Alderman v. Philadelphia Housing Authority, 496 F.2d 164, 168 (3d Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 419 U.S. 844, 95 S.Ct. 77, 42 L.Ed.2d 72 (1974). Consequently, the courts strictly scrutinize statutes regulating First Amendment rights by requiring the state to satisfy a more rigid standard of justification for such legislation than for statutes regulating economic activity. William Goldman Theatres v. Dana, supra. In order to sustain a statute regulating First Amendment rights, the courts require the state to prove a compelling governmental interest that cannot be effectuated by a less drastic alternative. Virginia State Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Inc., 425 U.S. 748, 96 S.Ct. 1817, 48 L.Ed.2d 346 (1976); N.A.A.C.P. v. *363Button, 371 U.S. 415, 83 S.Ct. 328, 9 L.Ed.2d 405 (1963); Dana, supra;Commonwealth v. Feigenbaum, 166 Pa.Super. 120, 70 A.2d 389 (1950).

¶28Despite the special status afforded the First Amendment the U.S. Supreme Court has found compelling justifications supporting statutes regulating First Amendment rights when the state had a valid interest in safeguarding the public order,6 regulating the use of public streets,7 controlling sensitive, non-traditional public areas such as prisons,8 limiting the use of fighting words,9 and protecting sensitive audiences.10 However, because the state interest must be compelling, mere administrative convenience will not provide a sufficient governmental rationale. Moreover, in addition to proving a compelling need for the legislation, the state must demonstrate the absence of a less drastic alternative to further its purpose.

¶29In the instant case, the Commonwealth has presented no compelling state interest to justify the statute’s regulation of First Amendment rights. I can conceive of only two possible state interests: (1) preventing last minute scurrilous attacks on a political opponent who has no opportunity to reply, and (2) attempting to protect the electorate from exposure to possibly unsubstantiated and confusing charges.

¶30The first possible state interest, protecting the reputation of candidates for public office is clearly not a compelling state interest. In N.Y. Times Co. v. Sullivan, supra, the Supreme Court recognized the importance of vigorous politi*364cal debate, including sharp criticism of official conduct. The Court reasoned that because such expression is so critical to our democratic form of government, “neither factual error nor defamatory content suffices to remove the constitutional shield from criticism of official conduct.” N.Y. Times Co. v. Sullivan, supra, 376 U.S. at 273, 84 S.Ct. at 722. Further, the court recognized “a profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open, and it may well include vehement, caustic, and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials.” N.Y. Times Co. v. Sullivan, supra, 376 U.S. at 270, 84 S.Ct., at 721. Consequently, the Court concluded that the First Amendment prohibits a public official from recovering damages for defamation regarding his official conduct, absent proof that the defamatory statement was made with knowledge of its falsity or reckless disregard of its truth or falsity.

¶31Subsequently, the Court elaborated this view by recognizing that, unlike private individuals, public officials and public figures require less protection from defamatory statements because they “voluntarily expose[d] themselves to the increased risk of injury from defamatory falsehoods concerning them.” Gertz v. Welch, 418 U.S. 323, 345, 94 S.Ct. 2997, 3010, 41 L.Ed.2d 789 (1974), and can counter such charges more effectively because of their greater access to the media. Consequently, they are less vulnerable to injury and less deserving of recovery than private individuals. See Gertz, supra.See also, Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts and Associated Press v. Walker, 388 U.S. 130, 87 S.Ct. 1975, 18 L.Ed.2d 1094 (1967). Thus, there is no compelling Commonwealth interest in protecting the reputation of political candidates.

¶32Secondly, attempting to protect the electorate from exposure to unsubstantiated charges is an equally uncompelling state interest. Thus, in Virginia Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, supra, the Supreme Court rejected the argument that Virginia’s statute prohibiting pharmacists from advertising drug prices protected the *365public from false information. There could be no compelling state interest, the Court reasoned, when “the State’s protectiveness of its citizens rests in large measure on the advantages of their being kept in ignorance.” 425 U.S. at 769, 96 S.Ct. at 1829.

¶33Moreover, the First Amendment affords special protection to political expression in order to “assure unfettered interchange of ideas for the bringing about of political and social changes desired by the people.” Roth v. United States, 354 U.S. 476, 77 S.Ct. 1304, 1 L.Ed.2d 1498 (1957). Consequently, the First Amendment also protects political association. Buckley v. Valeo, supra. Nevertheless, the courts have sustained regulations limiting the exercise of First Amendment rights within the context of the electoral process when compelling state interests justify such legislation. The courts have found such compelling governmental interests when the statute in question seeks to eliminate bribery and corruption in election,11 maintain the integrity of the ballot,12 avoid intra-party raiding,13 and prevent political pressure on government employees.14 However, absent a compelling rationale, the regulation will not withstand judicial scrutiny. Consequently, in Mills v. Alabama, supra, the Supreme Court invalidated a statute providing criminal penalties for the publication of newspaper editorials on election day urging the public to vote a certain way on electoral issues. The Court rejected the state’s rationale that the restraint was reasonable, minor, and beneficial because it protected the public from confusing last minute changes. Rather, the Court found the statute to be an impermissible violation of the First Amendment’s protection of “discussion of candi*366dates, structures and forms of government, the manner in which government is operated or should be operated, and all such matters relating to political processes.” Mills, supra,384 U.S. 218-19, 86 S.Ct. 1437.

¶34Similarly, in Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241, 94 S.Ct. 2831, 41 L.Ed.2d 730 (1974) a unanimous Supreme Court held unconstitutional Florida’s law imposing upon newspapers an obligation to grant political candidates the right to reply to editorials attacking the candidate’s character. Although the Court recognised the desirability of a responsible press, the Court reasoned that press responsibility cannot be legislated by governmental intrusion into the editorial process.

¶35In the instant case, as in Mills, supra, and Miami Herald, supra, the asserted state purpose for limiting political expression is not compelling and is equally violative of the First Amendment. Although § 3234 regulates political advertisements, as opposed to political editorials as in Mills, supra, and Miami Herald, supra, this does not in any way dilute the First Amendment protections afforded such expression. The courts have “never suggested that the dependence of a communication on the expenditure of money operates itself to introduce a nonspeech element or to reduce the exacting scrutiny required by the First Amendment.” Buckley, supra,96 S.Ct. at 633. See also N.Y. Times Co. v. Sullivan, supra. Finally, while a correctly and fully informed electorate, like a responsible press, is a desirable goal, the state may not legislate an objectively informed electorate by burdening the exercise of First Amendment rights. Because no compelling state interest supports § 3234’s regulation of First Amendment rights, there is no need to determine whether a less restrictive alternative would have effectuated the Commonwealth’s purpose. Without a compelling state interest as a justification, the Commonwealth’s purpose in the regulation is unconstitutional.

¶36I find that § 3234 of the Election Code does not prohibit reply advertisements and that the statute is an unconstitu*367tional regulation of First Amendment rights. Accordingly, I concur and would vacate appellant’s sentence.