Court Opinion

ID: 9727925
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 13:53:06.213843+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:24:55.722497
License: Public Domain

POPOVICH, Judge,
dissenting:
This represents an unwarranted intrusion into the Supreme Court’s test for ineffectiveness as set forth in Commonwealth ex rel. Washington v. Maroney, 427 Pa. 599, 235 A.2d 349 (1967). Accord Commonwealth v. Clemmons, 505 Pa. 356, 479 A.2d 955 (1984). The majority *341concedes that counsel’s action in introducing appellant’s prior record was not reasonable. At 333. However, the majority justifies counsel’s error because the “evidence overwhelmingly established appellant’s guilt.” At 335. Moreover, the concept that overwhelming guilt excuses counsel’s ineffectiveness is not embraced in any United States or Pennsylvania Supreme Court opinion. Hence, it is not the function of this Court to erode established precedent of our Supreme Court.