Opinion
June 10, 1968.
September 12, 1968.
Criminal Law — Counsel for defendant — Waiver — Burden of proof.
HOFFMAN, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which SPAULDING, J., joined.
Submitted June 10, 1968.
Before WRIGHT, P.J., WATKINS, MONTGOMERY, JACOBS, HOFFMAN, SPAULDING, and HANNUM, JJ.
Appeal, No. 587, Oct. T., 1968, from order of Court of Oyer and Terminer of Cumberland County, Dec. T., 1955, No. 2, in case of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Richard U.T. Hoffman. Order affirmed.
Petition for post-conviction hearing. Before SHUGHART, P.J.
Order entered dismissing petition. Defendant appealed.
Richard U.T. Hoffman, appellant, in propria persona.
John B. Fowler, III, Assistant District Attorney, for Commonwealth, appellee.
Order affirmed.
This is an appeal from an order of the Court of Oyer and Terminer of Cumberland County denying appellant's petition for post-conviction relief.
The crucial question in this case is whether appellant effectively waived his constitutional right to the assistance of counsel.
In the instant case, the lower court at the time of trial asked, "Are you willing to waive the appointment of counsel?" to which appellant answered "Yes."
The Commonwealth argues that this question and refusal automatically shifts the burden to the accused who must then show by a preponderance of the evidence that the waiver was not understandingly and intelligently made. In support of this, it cites Commonwealth ex rel. Mullins v. Maroney, 428 Pa. 195, 236 A.2d 781 (1968).
The Supreme Court, however, in Commonwealth v. Blose, 430 Pa. 209, 241 A.2d 918 (1968), analyzed the Mullins case, and indicated that the defendant must not only be advised of his right to counsel but that counsel will be appointed for him without charge if he so desires. Unless that appears in the record, the burden must remain upon the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth argues that the trial judge did use the word "appoint" which would have conveyed to the defendant the fact that he could have free counsel. This argument was specifically rejected in Commonwealth v. Blose, supra, at p. 212 n. 4 where the Supreme Court stated: "The use of the word `appoint' in the post-conviction court's opinion is not sufficient to demonstrate that appellant knew that an appointed attorney is a free attorney. . . ."
It would appear from this statement, therefore that the Supreme Court has modified its position as stated in Mullins, supra and in Commonwealth ex rel. Wright v. Cavell, 422 Pa. 253, 220 A.2d 611 (1966).
In my opinion, the statement in the Blose case at p. 212 is fully applicable here, and the Commonwealth, therefore, failed to sustain its burden of proof.
For these reasons I would reverse the order of the lower court and grant a new trial.
SPAULDING, J., joins in this dissenting opinion.