Court Opinion

ID: 9746507
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-27 14:19:32.194645+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:25:14.067168
License: Public Domain

NIGRO, Justice,
concurring and dissenting.
I concur in the result as to trial counsel’s failure to request a “No Adverse Inference Charge.” I dissent and write separately, however, as I believe the post-conviction court erred in summarily dismissing Appellant’s petition under the Post Conviction Relief Act without conducting an evidentiary hearing.
While the right to an evidentiary hearing in connection with a Post Conviction Relief Act Petition is not absolute, a hearing may only be denied if Petitioner’s claim is patently frivolous and without trace of support either in the record or from other evidence. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9541; Commonwealth v. White, 449 Pa.Super. 386, 674 A.2d 253 (1996). A post-conviction petition may not be summarily dismissed as patently frivolous when the facts alleged in the petition, if proven, would entitle Petitioner to relief. Id. Appellant, through counsel, filed a supplemental petition alleging counsel’s failure to file a direct appeal. Appellant’s averment provides sufficient basis for the Court to conduct an evidentiary hearing to determine whether appellant had ever requested an appeal be filed. I believe the case should be remanded to the post conviction court for a determination of whether appellant was denied his right to a direct appeal, and if so, appellant should be permitted to proceed nunc pro tunc.