Court Opinion

ID: 9532185
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:18:57.557727+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:41.956093
License: Public Domain

CIRILLO, Judge,
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent. I cannot agree with the majority’s holding that trial counsel’s advice to his client (appellant) not to testify at trial amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel.
At trial, counsel originally advised appellant not to testify when he thought he would be able to exclude certain statements of another witness which would tend to inculpate appellant. Although the inculpatory statements were admitted, counsel continued to recommend that his client not testify. Appellant was convicted of third degree murder.
The majority opinion holds that once the inculpatory statements of the other witness were admitted, counsel’s continued advice to his client not to testify was without reasonable basis. The majority reasons that: 1) the only available exculpatory evidence was that which could be elicited from appellant’s testimony; 2) counsel had “nothing to lose” and everything to gain by putting appellant on the stand.
*490I submit that the majority oversteps this Court’s function with respect to ineffectiveness claims because it judges effectiveness on the basis of an after the fact look at the success of counsel’s chosen strategy. This approach is unacceptable. In assessing claims of ineffective assistance of counsel “we must be wary not to weigh the actual results of the trial strategy.” Commonwealth v. Roman, 494 Pa. 440, 448, 431 A.2d 936, 939 (1981). We must look for the “reasonable basis” of a chosen tactic at the time it was implemented, not after it has failed. “Although weigh the alternatives we must, the balance tips in favor of a finding of effective assistance as soon as it is determined that trial counsel’s decision had any reasonable basis.” Commonwealth ex rel. Washington v. Maroney, 427 Pa. 599, 600, 235 A.2d 349, 353 (1967) (emphasis added).
My review of the facts in this rather bizarre case leads me to the conclusion that trial counsel’s basis for opting not to put appellant on the stand was most reasonable. The Commonwealth’s case was purely circumstantial and the evidence somewhat attenuated. Counsel chose to rest on what he thought was a weak case for the Commonwealth. He elected not to expose his client to cross-examination, which could lead to corroboration and exacerbation of the already admitted inculpatory evidence. See, Commonwealth v. Roman, supra (recognizing the inherent danger of exposing client to cross-examination). Counsel did not have “nothing to lose” as the majority suggests. Counsel informedly and deliberately weighed the risk of dangerous cross-examination against the possible exculpatory evidence that appellant had to offer. On the basis of this calculation, counsel recommended that appellant not take the stand. Although appellant was ultimately convicted, counsel’s advice was not unsound.
In addition to improperly assessing the basis of counsel’s trial strategy, the majority ignores the principle that the ultimate decision of whether to testify rests on the defendant. Commonwealth v. Rawles, 501 Pa. 514, 462 A.2d 619 (1983). Here, the record indicates that appellant was col*491lege-educated, intelligent and, moreover, that he was informed of his right to testify. There is no indication that appellant disagreed with counsel’s advice that he not take the stand. In such circumstances, counsel cannot be found ineffective. Commonwealth v. Rawles, supra. The consequences of failing to testify rest squarely on appellant’s shoulders.
For the foregoing reasons, and because I subscribe to the majority’s disposition of appellant’s remaining claims, I would affirm the order of the trial court.