Court Opinion

ID: 9698523
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 19:52:32.754772+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:41.567848
License: Public Domain

ROBERTS, Justice,
concurring.
The record clearly demonstrates that appellant was aware of his right of appeal, and the consequences of failing to file it timely. The record does not demonstrate that appellant’s decision not to appeal was based on advice of counsel. Although appellant claims that trial counsel was ineffective in failing to preserve appellant’s appellate rights, counsel cannot be held ineffective unless appellant demonstrates that the course of action chosen by counsel had no reasonable basis. See Commonwealth ex rel. Washington v. Maroney, 427 Pa. 599, 604, 235 A.2d 349, 352 (1967). On this ground, I concur in the result. Thus any discussion by the majority of the merits of the claims which might have been raised on appeal must be considered dictum.