Court Opinion

ID: 9707212
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 02:05:28.541773+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:29.261207
License: Public Domain

*534NIX, Chief Justice,
dissenting.
Appellee, filed a pro se petition under the Post Conviction Hearing Act, 42 Pa.C.S. § 9541 et seq., alleging ineffective assistance of trial counsel in failing to advise appellee that the trial court’s failure to follow the plea agreement provided him with the absolute right to withdraw his plea. See Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 319(b)(3). The right under Pa.R.Crim.P. Rule 321 which affords a defendant ten (10) days from the time of sentencing to seek the withdrawal of the plea is far different from his being advised that he had grounds to obtain that relief.
Although, the Superior Court may have decided the matter on an issue that had not been properly presented to it, the issue that was raised by appellee justified the order of reversal and remanding with instructions to permit the withdrawal of the plea; and that order should have been sustained upon that ground. We should affirm an order if it is correct for any reason, regardless of the reason relied on by the court below. Gwinn v. Kane, 465 Pa. 269, 348 A.2d 900 (1975); Gilbert v. Korvette, Inc., 457 Pa. 602, 327 A.2d 94 (1974); Justin J. Powell, Inc. v. Wian, 456 Pa. 35, 318 A.2d 346 (1974). I therefore dissent.