Opinion ID: 1463387
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Issues Deemed Finally Litigated

Text: Section 1180-3 provides that, to be eligible for relief under the PCHA, a person must prove that his conviction resulted from one or more of 13 reasons enumerated in subsection (c). [2] Subsection (d) further requires petitioner to prove that the error resulting in his conviction and sentence has not been finally litigated or waived. Section 1180-4 sets forth the definition of finally litigated: (a) For the purposes of this act, an issue is finally litigated if: (1) It has been raised in the trial court, the trial court has ruled on the merits of the issue, and the petitioner has knowingly and understandingly failed to appeal the trial court's ruling; or (2) The Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has ruled on the merits of the issue and the petitioner has knowingly and understandingly failed to appeal the trial court's ruling; or (3) The Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has ruled on the merits of the issue. This Court has previously dealt with some of Mr. Alexander's prior petitions which raised several of the exact same issues now dragged before us for yet another go-round. These finally litigated issues are the denial of the opportunity to cross-examine and to confront his accuser (these issues, raised in the second petition, were deemed abandoned by this Court, according to appellant's brief) and the validity of the guilty plea (raised and denied in the fourth proceeding and affirmed by this Court on direct appeal). It is incredibly impudent of Mr. Alexander to come before this Court at this time to assert these same stale allegations of error. Of course, the PCHA court did not abuse its discretion in denying a hearing on these issues.