Opinion ID: 1954225
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: recusal of the attorney general

Text: Because of an alleged conflict of the Attorney General's office, Breakiron requests that we remand this matter for a new PCRA hearing. We disagree that the Attorney General's office had any actual conflict in this matter. During the PCRA proceedings, Breakiron requested that the PCRA court appoint special counsel from the Attorney General's office because in the interim from Breakiron's trial to the PCRA filing, both of Breakiron's trial and direct appeals counsel, Richard Bower and Jack Heneks of the Public Defender's office, became Assistant District Attorneys. Consequently, the Fayette County District Attorney's office had a conflict of interest in prosecuting the matter before the PCRA court. (The Fayette County District Attorney's office consisted of only five attorneys, including the two who had worked on Breakiron I. ) The trial court granted the request to recuse the District Attorney. (Apparently, the District Attorney's office agreed that a conflict existed and requested that the Attorney General's office take over the matter.) Following this motion and Order of the PCRA court, Chief Deputy Attorney General Robert Graci assumed the prosecution of the PCRA claims pursuant to 71 P.S. § 732-205. A short while after the appointment of Attorney Graci, Breakiron filed a motion to recuse Attorney Graci and to appoint another special prosecutor. The basis for the motion was that Attorney Graci allegedly created a conflict of interest because he asked trial counsel Bower to review a file that was still in the Public Defender's office. In addition, Attorney Graci had also requested Attorney Bower to review PCRA filings before the pleadings were filed with the court. On January 23, 1997, the PCRA court held a hearing regarding Breakiron's motion for recusal of the Attorney General. On March 10, 1997, the PCRA court denied the motion, holding that it: [found] no conflict to warrant recusal of the Attorney General. We must note initially that our decision should not be construed as our condonation or approval of the actions taken by Attorney Graci in soliciting Attorney Bower's assistance, or Attorney Bower's review of the file in the public defender's office... Our research has revealed no case on point. Nevertheless, we find that the effect is de minimis at this early stage of the proceedings. . . Any alleged conflict is not so severe as to warrant the drastic measures of recusing the Attorney General and appointing a special prosecutor. We agree with the trial court that while the Attorney General's actions in this matter are not to be condoned, removal of the Attorney General was not an appropriate remedy, and the effect, if any, on the PCRA proceeding was de minimis. Breakiron did not meet his burden of showing that there was any actual impropriety in Attorney Graci's conduct. See, e.g., Commonwealth v. Harris, 501 Pa. 178, 460 A.2d 747 (1983) (in order to appoint special prosecutor in PCHA proceedings, the defendant must show an actual impropriety, which taints the proceedings). We deny Breakiron's request that we remand this matter for another PCRA hearing. [2]