Court Opinion

ID: 9736238
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 18:48:19.191447+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:32.722337
License: Public Domain

ROWLEY, Judge,
dissenting:
I join in Judge McEwen’s and Judge Tamilia’s dissenting opinions. Were it not for the Supreme Court’s decision in Commonwealth v. Silver, 499 Pa. 228, 452 A.2d 1328 (1982), however, I would feel compelled, on the basis of Commonwealth v. Fox, 476 Pa. 475, 383 A.2d 199 (1978), to join the majority. I write only to emphasize that my analysis of Commonwealth v. Silver convinces me that a remand is not necessary in this case.
In Commonwealth v. Silver, supra, the appellant claimed that an allegedly improper communication between an officer of the court and some of the jurors during jury deliberation entitled him to a new trial. The Supreme Court held that appellant’s counsel, who was also trial counsel, had not preserved this claim for appellate review. The argument was then made that counsel had been constitutionally ineffective for failing to preserve the jury communication issue. A four justice majority of the Supreme Court held that it would “consider the merits of the jury issue in *316order to evaluate the ineffectiveness claim.” The Court said:
We must next consider whether the waiver of the jury claim amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel. In general, when an appellant raising the ineffective assistance of trial counsel is represented on appeal by the same counsel, the case must be remanded for the appointment of new counsel not associated with trial counsel except where ineffective assistance is clear on the face of the record. Commonwealth v. Gardner, 480 Pa. 7, 389 A.2d 58 (1978); Commonwealth v. Patrick, 477 Pa. 284, 383 A.2d 935 (1978); Commonwealth v. Fox, 476 Pa. 475, 383 A.2d 199 (1978); Commonwealth v. Sherard, 477 Pa. 429, 384 A.2d 234 (1977); Commonwealth v. Wright, 473 Pa. 395, 374 A.2d 1272 (1977). In such circumstances it cannot be assumed that appellate counsel will provide the zealous advocacy to which the appellant is entitled. Commonwealth v. Gardner, supra; Commonwealth v. Patrick, supra; Commonwealth v. Fox, supra. The instant record does not clearly establish that trial counsel did not have a reasonable basis for failing to preserve the claim in question. It is well established, however, that trial counsel is not ineffective in failing to preserve a meritless claim. Commonwealth v. Tarver, 491 Pa. 253, 420 A.2d 438 (1980); Commonwealth v. Wilkerson, 490 Pa. 296, 416 A.2d 477 (1980); Commonwealth v. Yocham, 473 Pa. 445, 375 A.2d 325 (1977); Commonwealth v. Hubbard, 472 Pa. 259, 372 A.2d 687 (1977). We shall therefore consider the merits of the jury issue in order to evaluate the ineffectiveness claim. 499 Pa. at 240, 452 A.2d at 1334.
It is interesting to note that Mr. Justice Roberts, the author of the opinion in Commonwealth v. Fox, joined the majority in Commonwealth v. Silver. It is also interesting to note that the dissent in Commonwealth v. Silver does not discuss this issue at all, being limited solely to an unrelated question. Thus, reading Fox and Silver together, which in my opinion we are required to do, the general rule is that when appellate counsel asserts his own ineffectiveness as *317trial counsel the case should be remanded for appointment of new counsel except where (1) counsel’s ineffectiveness is clear on the face of the record or (2) where it is clear that the alleged claim of ineffectiveness has no merit. On the other hand, where counsel’s ineffectiveness is not clear on the face of the record and the asserted claim of ineffectiveness has arguable merit, the case must be remanded for appointment of new counsel and a hearing to determine whether or not there was a reasonable basis for counsel’s action. Where, however, the alleged ineffectiveness consists solely of failing to preserve an issue for appellate review and that issue has been in fact litigated in the trial court and considered on its merits by the trial court, the appellate court may and should, without remanding the case, determine whether or not there is any arguable merit to the claim asserted.
In Silver, a post-verdict colloquy was held by the court with the jury in the absence of counsel. At a subsequent hearing on post-verdict motions, appellant’s counsel did not have the transcript of the court’s colloquy with the jury. As the Court pointed out in Silver, “[wjithout knowledge of what had taken place during the colloquy, defense counsel then made an oral motion asserting that the trial court had erred in not declaring a mistrial after the colloquy.” The Supreme Court, however, in reviewing the record determined that counsel’s representation did not constitute ineffectiveness because the record showed that the trial court’s finding that there had been no prejudicial communication was supported by the record. The claim was, therefore, determined to be without merit and the Court held that counsel had not been ineffective for failing to preserve the issue.
In the case presently before us, there is an even clearer showing that the claim of ineffectiveness lacks merit. There is no suggestion that counsel at any time proceeded “without knowledge of what had taken place” concerning either of the issues raised here. Therefore, I conclude that this case is controlled by Commonwealth v. Silver, and that Commonwealth v. Fox does not mandate a remand.
*318The claims made in this case are that counsel was ineffective for failing to preserve, in post-trial motions, (1) appellant’s Rule 1100 claim and (2) appellant’s suppression issue. The suppression motion was litigated and adjudicated by the trial court prior to trial. The record of that proceeding is before us at this time. Likewise, the record before us is complete regarding the pre-trial proceedings, including appellant’s waivers, both written and oral, relative to the Rule 1100 issue. Thus, a determination of these claims is both possible and appropriate.
If this case is remanded to the trial court for the appointment of new counsel and new counsel then raises the same two claims of ineffectiveness, the case will be returned to us on the basis of the same record we now have. The present record on those two issues cannot be added to or subtracted from. Moreover, there is no claim that counsel was ineffective in litigating these two issues. The only claim is that he was ineffective for failing to include the two issues in post-trial motions. Thus, at least insofar as these two claims are concerned, we will have the same record and the same arguments again at a later date for disposition. Since these claims have already been presented (although not preserved) in the trial court and now to this Court, I see no need to return the matter for further proceedings that, in my opinion, will ultimately return to us the same identical questions and issues on the same record some months or years in the future. In my opinion, the matter can, and should, be appropriately decided now.
It is argued, however, that new counsel may discover additional claims of ineffectiveness which can be raised. He may or he may not, but the fact that he may find additional claims to raise, for which there is an adequate remedy in another proceeding, does not necessitate further delay in disposing of the issues presently before us when the answer is clear on the present record. Our decision now on these issues will not foreclose or impair appellant’s opportunity to raise any additional ineffectiveness claims that may occur to him or other counsel in the future.
*319Such an approach would be consistent, not only with Commonwealth v. Silver, supra, but also with the decision of the Supreme Court in Commonwealth v. Clemmons, 505 Pa. 356, 479 A.2d 955 (1984), where, although appellate counsel was different than trial counsel, the Court emphasized that where allegations of ineffectiveness have no arguable merit an evidentiary hearing is unnecessary and such allegations should be rejected and dismissed without remand for further hearing.
Thus, I am of the opinion that there is no necessity to remand this case for appointment of new counsel and further proceedings for the reason that the claims now asserted as the basis of counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness have no arguable merit.
McEWEN and TAMILIA, JJ., join in this dissenting opinion.