Court Opinion

ID: 9767409
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 05:18:56.190139+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:31.058165
License: Public Domain

*209POPOVICH, Judge,
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent from the majority’s opinion that the PCRA does not require greater proof of prejudice resulting from counsel’s assistance than the standard applicable on direct appeal. Although I recognize that Commonwealth v. Buehl, 540 Pa. 493, 658 A.2d 771 (1995), was a plurality opinion, I agree with Justice Montemuro that claims of ineffective assistance raised under the PCRA face a more stringent prejudice requirement. Specifically, the appellant must prove that counsel’s ineffectiveness “so undermined the truth-determining process that no reliable adjudication of guilt or innocence could have taken place.” 42 Pa.C.S. § 9543(a)(2)(ii).
Presently, Judge Tamilia agrees with the majority that there is not a more stringent standard to establish ineffective assistance under the PCRA. While I disagree with Judge Tamilia and the majority regarding that issue, I agree with Judge Tamilia’s conclusion that appellant did not establish that counsel was ineffective. As it is my opinion that appellant failed to prove ineffective assistance under the less stringent standard proposed by the majority, clearly, such proof would be insufficient to overcome the standard set forth in Buehl. Accordingly, I dissent.