Opinion ID: 1467486
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Appellant Bradley

Text: Appellant Bradley argues that counsel's ineffectiveness stemmed from his unawareness of the most recent amendments to Pa.R.Crim.P. 1126 which went into effect on August 1, 1980, one month before trial. As a result, defense counsel believed that the defense was to be given a total of only seven peremptory challenges which were to be divided among all three defendants. Appellant Bradley now asserts that Rule 1126, as it stood at the time of trial, permitted each appellant a total of seven peremptory challenges. Although not raised by Bradley at trial or in post-trial motions, this claim is not waived. Present counsel for Appellant Bradley assumed responsibility over this case only after this appeal had been perfected. Commonwealth v. Hubbard, 472 Pa. at 276-277 nn. 6 and 7, 372 A.2d at 695 nn. 6 and 7. We note that there has been no evidentiary hearing for Bradley on this issue in the trial court. Cf. Commonwealth v. Davis, 499 Pa. 282, 453 A.2d 309, 310 (1982); Commonwealth v. Stitzel, 309 Pa.Super. 43, 454 A.2d 1072 (1982). However, because we can determine that appellant's claim is without merit, we will not remand for such a hearing. Commonwealth v. Hubbard, supra, 472 Pa. at 278, 372 A.2d at 696. We do not agree with appellant's reading of Rule 1126. The Rule, as amended, states that, where there is only one defendant in a case involving a non-capital felony (such as rape), the Commonwealth and the defendant shall each be entitled to seven (7) peremptory challenges. Rule 1126(a)(2). In trials involving more than one defendant, the defendants shall divide equally among them that number of peremptory challenges that the defendant charged with the highest grade of offense would have received if tried separately. Rule 1126(b)(1). Each defendant, however, must be afforded at least two peremptory challenges and, if the division among joint defendants results in a fraction of a peremptory challenge, each defendant shall be entitled to the next highest number of such challenges. Id. In this case, the division of challenges resulted in two and one-third (2 1/3) challenges for each appellant. Thus, under the amended Rule each appellant was entitled to the next highest whole number of such challenges, namely, three peremptory challenges. The appellants were entitled to a maximum of seven peremptory challenges each if, but only if, permitted by the trial judge. Rule 1126(b)(2) provides that: [I]t shall be within the discretion of the trial judge to increase the number of peremptory challenges to which each defendant is entitled up to the number of peremptory challenges that each defendant would have received if tried alone. There is no automatic entitlement to seven peremptory challenges for each defendant when multiple defendants are tried jointly for a non-capital felony. Furthermore, Appellant Bradley has failed to set forth any circumstances which would have warranted, let alone required, the trial judge to grant the maximum number of peremptory challenges for use during voir dire in this case. Commonwealth v. McKenna, 498 Pa. 416, 446 A.2d 1274 (1982); Commonwealth v. Pettus, 492 Pa. 558, 424 A.2d 1332 (1981); Commonwealth v. McFarland, 304 Pa.Super. 470, 450 A.2d 1008 (1982). The claim pressed here by Appellant Bradley is therefore without merit.