Commonwealth v. Frazier

Jan 24, 1974
Appeal, 434
Reporters:
, ,
Before:
Roberts

Opinion by Mr.

Justice Roberts,

Appellant, Daniel Frazier, appeals from the denial of relief under the Post Conviction Hearing Act [PCHA], Act ‍​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‍of January 25, 1966, P.L. (1965) 1580, 19 P.S. §§ 1180-1 to -14 (Supp. 1973). Certain of the issues he presently raises were decided adversely to him in his direct appeal, Commonwealth v. Frazier, 443 Pa. 178, 279 A.2d 33 (1971), and are therefore finally litigated. PCHA, ‍​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‍supra at 19 P.S. § 1180-4(a) (3). These *163 issues may not now be reconsidered, either under the theories then advanced, or under new theories now argued. Commonwealth v. Orr, 450 Pa. 632, 301 A.2d 608 (1973); Commonwealth v. Slavik, 449 Pa. 424, 297 A.2d 920 (1972).

Appellant’s remaining claims were raised in ‍​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‍the trial court, decided on the merits, and not presented in his direct appeal. Consequently, they are likewise finally litigated and may not be reviewed. PCHA, supra at 19 P.S. § 1180-4(a) (1).

Appellant asserts, however, that his appellate counsel was ineffective ‍​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‍because counsel did not present on direct appeal every issue raised at trial. Our examination of the record satisfies us that this contention is without merit. See Commonwealth v. Hill, 450 Pa. 477, 301 A.2d 587 (1973); Commonwealth v. Baker, 429 Pa. 209, 239 A.2d 201 (1968); Commonwealth ex ‍​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‍rel. Washington v. Maroney, 427 Pa. 599, 235 A.2d 349 (1967). See also ABA Code of Professional Responsibility, DR 7-101 (B)(1) (1969).

Order affirmed.