Court Opinion

ID: 9649179
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 14:44:04.244278+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:12:08.504889
License: Public Domain

ROBERTS, Justice,
dissenting.
The majority errs in rejecting the present allegations of ineffective assistance out of hand. On this record, it is far from apparent why trial counsel failed to seek a hearing on whether homicide charges against appellant should be transferred to juvenile court. Our cases are clear that where, as here,
“it is impossible to tell from the record whether or not the action of trial counsel could have had a rational basis, the appellate court will vacate the judgment, at least for the time being, and remand for an evidentiary hearing at which trial counsel may state his reasons for having chosen the course of action taken.”
Commonwealth v. Turner, 469 Pa. 319, 324, 365 A.2d 847, 849 (1976). Fairness mandates a remand here, rather than an affirmance.
Additionally, although I agree with the majority that trial counsel’s failure to seek a hearing on whether charges against a juvenile should be transferred to juvenile court is not ineffective assistance per se, I must disagree with the majority’s bold assertion that appellant has failed to establish any reasons why transfer, if requested, would have been *565warranted. The juvenile system inherently confers substantial benefits:
“[Jjudges in the juvenile courts do take a different view of their role than that taken by their counterparts in the criminal courts. * * *
[T]he juvenile system has available and utilizes much more fully various diagnostic and rehabilitative services.
[T]he end result of a declaration of delinquency is significantly different from and less onerous than a finding of criminal guilt. * * *”
Terry Appeal, 438 Pa. 339, 348-49, 265 A.2d 350, 354-55 (1970) , aff’d, 403 U.S. 528, 91 S.Ct. 1976, 29 L.Ed.2d 647 (1971) . Further, contrary to the majority’s assumption, the decision not to seek a transfer is not for counsel to make alone. Clearly the decision to forgo the substantial benefits conferred by the juvenile system is crucial and must be shared by the juvenile. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 6355(c) (transfer from juvenile to criminal court may be requested by “child”); ABA Project on Minimum Standards for Criminal Justice, Standards Relating to the Defense Function §§ 5.1, 5.2 (Approved Draft, 1971); Comment, Criminal Waiver: The Requirement of Personal Participation, Competence and Legitimate State Interest, 54 Calif.L.Rev. 1262 (1966).