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260 Pa. Super. 120

Commonwealth v. High

Superior Court of Pennsylvania

Decided November 3, 1978

Superior Court of Pennsylvania · decided 1978-11-03

Cited by 6 later decisions — most recently April 1981

6 state decisions

Relies on Commonwealth v. Adams · Commonwealth v. Smith · Commonwealth v. Haynes

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1978-11-03

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SPAETH, Judge:

¶1This is an appeal from a lower court order dismissing appellant’s petition for relief under the Post Conviction Hearing Act, Act of January 25, 1966, P.L. 1580, et seq., 19 P.S. 1180-1 et seq. (Supp.1970). The only question stated in appellant’s brief is whether the lower court should have appointed counsel to assist appellant with his PCHA petition.

¶2It is clear that the lower court should have appointed counsel. See Commonwealth v. Triplett, 467 Pa. 510, 359 A.2d 392 (1976), quoting and applying Commonwealth v. Adams, 465 Pa. 389, 350 A.2d 820 (1976), which held that summary disposition of a petition without appointment of counsel

“is permitted only ‘when a previous petition involving the same issue or issues has been finally determined adversely to the petitioner and he . was represented by
counsel in proceedings thereon.’ Pa.R.Crim.P. 1504. See Commonwealth v. Smith, 459 Pa. 583, 330 A.2d 851 (1975); Commonwealth v. Haynes, 234 Pa.Super. 556, 340 A.2d 462 (1975).” 465 Pa. at 391, 350 A.2d at 821.

¶3The order of the lower court is reversed and the case remanded with instructions to the lower court to determine whether appellant is indigent, and if he is, to appoint counsel to assist him with his PCHA petition.

WATKINS, former President Judge and HOFFMAN, J., did not participate in the consideration or decision of this case.
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