Commonwealth v. Garzone

OPINION

Chief Justice CASTILLE.

The issue in these consolidated appeals involves the construction of 16 P.S. § 7708, applicable to Pennsylvania counties of the first class, which provides that “in cases where a defendant is convicted and sentenced to pay the costs of prosecution and trial, the expenses of the district attorney, in connection with such prosecution, shall be considered a part of the costs of the cases and be paid by the defendant.”1 The specific question is whether a trial court may order a convicted offender to pay costs to the Commonwealth representing salaries for hours worked…