Court Opinion

ID: 9756854
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 22:04:15.367627+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:32.237937
License: Public Domain

GRACI, J.,
Concurring.
¶ 11 concur in the result.
¶ 2 I agree with the majority that Thornton’s judgment of sentence should be affirmed. I also agree that his claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, raised for the first time on appeal, must be dismissed without prejudice to Thornton’s right to raise them in a PCRA petition as commanded by our Supreme Court in Commonwealth v. Grant, 572 Pa. 48, 813 A.2d 726 (2002).
¶ 3 I agree with the majority’s explanation of the rule announced in Grant. Majority Op. at 35. I also agree with the majority’s application of Grant in resolving this case. Majority Op. at 36-37. However, for the reasons set forth in my concurring opinions in Commonwealth v. Ruiz, 819 A.2d 92 (Pa.Super.2003) (Graci, J. concurring), and Commonwealth v. Rosendary, 818 A.2d 526 (Pa.Super.2003) (Graci, J. concurring), I do not agree with the sentiments expressed by the majority concerning possible exceptions to the general rule announced in Grant and how Grant may allow for the resolution of some claims of ineffective assistance of counsel which are raised for the first time on direct appeal. Majority Op. at 35-36. Like similar discussions in Rosendary and Ruiz, the discussion in this case is dicta as it is clearly not necessary to the resolution of this case.5
¶4 I am compelled to write further, however, to make two points. First, the majority seems to misunderstand the import of a statement it quotes from my concurring opinions in Ruiz and Rosen-dary when the majority says, “Nor do we find that a resolution of ineffective assistance of trial counsel claims on direct appeal requires ‘new counsel representing an appellant on direct appeal ... to raise every such claim on direct appeal, Grant notwithstanding.’ Ruiz, 819 A.2d at 99 (Graci, J. concurring); Rosendary, 818 A.2d at 532 (Graci, J. concurring).” Majority Op. at 36. The majority takes those words out of context.
*38¶ 5 In the .passage in which they are found, I was explaining the effect of the exceptions the Rosendary and Ruiz majorities were espousing. As an examination of the full passage shows, I was not saying that counsel was required to raise all claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel on direct appeal. That would obviously be in direct contravention of Grant. In context, I said the exact opposite. The full passage from both concurring opinions reads as follows:
If, as the majority implies, there are some claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel that may be resolved on direct appeal, then new counsel representing an appellant on direct appeal will be required to raise every such arguable claim on direct appeal, Grant notwithstanding. Otherwise, when a claim of trial counsel’s ineffectiveness is raised for the first time in a PCRA petition it will be subject to a legitimate waiver argument for dismissal since “the petitioner could have raised it but failed to do so ... on appeal.” 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9544(b). The PCRA courts in the first instance, and this Court on appeal, will then be required to determine if the record on direct appeal was “adequate to effectively review [the] claims.” PCRA counsel in every instance will again be required to layer the ineffective assistance of appellate counsel in order to avoid any possible PCRA waiver claim. That is exactly the situation which Grant intended to eliminate. Grant, 813 A.2d at 739. We will have turned a rule that was intended to curb such litigation into one that spawns it. We avoid such a result by applying what I believe is the clear dictate of Grant: dismiss claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel that are raised for the first time on direct appeal.
Ruiz, at 99 (Graci, J. concurring) (emphasis added; footnote omitted); Rosendary, at 529 (Graci, J. concurring) (emphasis added; footnote omitted).
¶ 6 In context, then, it is clear that I agree with the majority that “Grant abrogates any requirement, implied or otherwise, that such claims [of ineffective assistance of trial counsel] be raised during direct review.” Majority Op. at 36. I disagree, however, that “Grant recommends that we dismiss, without prejudice, claims of trial counsel’s ineffectiveness on direct appeal ....” Id. (emphasis added). I believe that Grant commands such dismissal.
¶ 7 Secondly, since we can no longer resolve claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel which are raised for the first time on direct appeal, I do not think we should comment further on any of Thornton’s ineffectiveness claims. As I explained in Ruiz:
The PCRA court is required to examine any properly pleaded claims of ineffective assistance in the first instance. We should do nothing to intrude on that function. It is not our role to issue advisory opinions. Okkerse v. Howe, [521 Pa. 509] 556 A.2d 827, 833 (Pa.1989) (advisory opinion is without legal effect); Borough of Marcus Hook v. Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement Board, 720 A.2d 803, 804 (Pa. Commonwealth 1998) (citing Okkerse for the proposition that a judicial determination that is unnecessary to decide case is an “advisory opinion and has no legal effect”).
Id. at 99-100 (Graci, J. concurring). Accordingly, I do not join footnote 4 of the majority opinion. Majority Op. at 36 n. 4. I leave it to the PCRA court to determine, in the first instance and on a proper record, if there was probable cause to seize Lee’s vehicle and whether trial counsel was ineffective in failing to file a motion to suppress. As the majority makes clear, as *39this and Thornton’s remaining claims are based on omissions, we have an inadequate record on which to address any of them. Id. at 86-37.
¶ 8 Accordingly, I join the opinion only to the extent it affirms Thornton’s conviction. Since the majority properly applies the rule of Grant, as I understand it, I concur in the result.

. Of course, if the discussion of this point in either Ruiz or Rosendary was not dicta, while I disagree with it, I would be bound to follow it.