Opinion ID: 2069959
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Alleged Failure to Seek a Mistrial Due to Allegedly Disruptive Behavior

Text: Johnson next avers that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to move for a mistrial when Eugenia Banks (Eugenia), the aunt of the victims, began crying in the courtroom. According to the PCRA court, [t]his incident arose early on in the guilt phase of trial when [Eugenia] was observed to be crying with her head down in the gallery near the jury box. At this time a sidebar was held in which the matter was discussed and it was ultimately resolved to move [Eugenia] away from the vicinity of the jury. Opinion of the PCRA Court, February 23, 2001, page 14 (citing N.T. Guilt Phase, 11/18/97, pages 169-170). Mistrials should be granted only when an incident is of such a nature that its unavoidable effect is to deprive appellant of a fair trial. Commonwealth v. Lewis, 523 Pa. 466, 567 A.2d 1376, 1383 (1989) (internal quotation omitted) (citing Commonwealth v. Chestnut, 511 Pa. 169, 512 A.2d 603, 606 (1986)). We cannot say that this incident, which was quickly ameliorated by moving Eugenia, had the unavoidable effect of depriving Johnson of a fair trial. As the PCRA court aptly notes, as this is a homicide case, we would trust that every juror with even the merest scintilla of common sense would realize that there are likely to be grieving relatives for the victims. Opinion of the PCRA Court, February 23, 2001, page 15. As there is no merit to Johnson's contention that he was entitled to a mistrial as a result of this incident, counsel was not ineffective for failing to request one. Commonwealth v. Tilley, 566 Pa. 312, 780 A.2d 649 (2001) (counsel will not be deemed ineffective for failing to raise a meritless claim).