Title: Commonwealth v. Wharton (Per Curiam Order)

State: pennsylvania

Issuer: Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Document:

[J-174-2003] IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA EASTERN DISTRICT COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, Appellee v. ROBERT WHARTON, Appellant : : : : : : : : : : : : No. 405 CAP Appeal from the February 11, 2003 Order of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Trial Division, Criminal Section, at Information Numbers 2258, February Term 1984, and 2643 and 0402, May Term 1984, dismissing Defendant's second Petition under the Post-Conviction Relief Act. ORDER PER CURIAM AND NOW, this 19th day of November, 2003, the trial court’s order of March 13, 2003 is VACATED. A post-conviction relief act petition may not be dismissed on the basis that litigation is pending in federal court. See Commonwealth v. Whitney, 817 A.2d 473 (Pa. 2003). This matter is REMANDED to the trial court. Jurisdiction is relinquished.