2012 Pa. Super. 134 - Commonwealth v. Doty’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

5 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 5 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Counsel petitioning to withdraw from PCRA representation must proceed ... under [ Commonwealth v. ] Turner, [ 518 Pa. 491 , 544 A.2d 927 (1988) ], and [ Commonwealth v. ] Finley, [ 379 Pa.Super. 390 , 550 A.2d 213 (1988) ] and ... must review the case zealously. Turner/Finley counsel must then submit a "no-merit" letter to the trial court, or brief on appeal to this Court, detailing the nature and extent of counsel's diligent review of the case, listing the issues which petitioner wants to have reviewed, explaining why and how those issues lack merit, and requesting permission to withdraw. Counsel must also send to the petitioner: (1) a copy of the "no merit" letter/brief; (2) a copy of counsel's petition to withdraw; and (3) a statement advising petitioner of the right to proceed pro se or by new counsel. * * * Where counsel submits a petition and no-merit letter that ... satisfy the technical demands of Turner/Finley, the court-trial court or this Court-must then conduct its own review of the merits of the case. If the court agrees with counsel that the claims are without merit, the court will permit counsel to withdraw and deny relief.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 2016 Pa. Super. 42 - Commonwealth v. Walters · 2016 Pa. Super. 77 - Commonwealth v. Muzzy