Commonwealth v. Warfield

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Eagen,

Barbara Warfield (defendant) was indicted in Allegheny County for murder and voluntary manslaughter. Her counsel filed a pretrial motion to suppress a written statement she gave to the police following her arrest, wherein she admitted killing and robbing the victim. After hearing, the motion was denied.

Subsequently, the defendant was arraigned, plead “not guilty”, and was placed on trial. A different judge from the one who had denied the motion to suppress presided.

After the jury was selected and sworn, counsel for the defendant immediately notified the trial judge…