Case Name: Commonwealth v. Hoffman, Appellant
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1968-11-27
Citations: 432 Pa. 340
Docket Number: No. 191
Parties: Commonwealth v. Hoffman, Appellant.
Judges: Before Bell, C. J., Jones, Cohen, Eagen, O’Brien and Roberts, JJ.
Reporter: Pennsylvania State Reports
Volume: 432
Pages: 340–341

Head Matter:
Commonwealth v. Hoffman, Appellant.
Before Bell, C. J., Jones, Cohen, Eagen, O’Brien and Roberts, JJ.
Richard U. T. Hoffman, appellant, in propria persona.
John B. Fowler, III, Assistant District Attorney, for Commonwealth, appellee.
November 27, 1968:

Opinion:
Opinion
Per Curiam,
Appellant claims that he was not represented by counsel at trial and that he did not make a knowing and intelligent waiver of counsel. Appellant was told only that he was "entitled to counsel" and was not told that he could have free counsel if indigent. This advice was inadequate. See Commonwealth v. Ritchey, 431 Pa. 269, 245 A. 2d 446 (1968); Commonwealth v. Blose, 430 Pa. 209, 241 A. 2d 918 (1968).
The petition for allocatur is granted, the order of the Superior Court, affirming the denial of the petition under the Post Conviction Hearing Act, is reversed, the order of the Court of Oyer and Terminer of Cumberland County is vacated and the record is remanded for a new trial.
Mr. Chief Justice Bell dissents.