Commonwealth v. Murray
| Decision Date | 23 May 1973 |
| Parties | COMMONWEALTH of Pennsylvania, Appellee, v. William MURRAY, Appellant. |
| Court | Pennsylvania Supreme Court |
John J. Dean, John H. Corbett, Jr., Pittsburgh, for appellant.
Robert W. Duggan, Dist. Atty., Robert L. Eberhardt, Asst. Dist Atty., Pittsburgh, for appellee.
Before JONES, C.J., and EAGEN, O'BRIEN, ROBERTS, POMEROY NIX and MANDERINO, JJ.
On July 8 1966, in the course of a robbery of a jewelry store in Pittsburgh, the operator of the store was fatally shot by one of the robbers. Three men, including William Murray, were arrested the same day and charged with the crimes. On February 13, 1967, Murray was convicted by a jury of murder in the first degree and the punishment was fixed at life imprisonment. The Honorable F. Joseph Thomas, of the Thirtieth Judicial District, Specially Presiding, was the trial judge. Post trial motions were filed and argument thereon was held before a court en banc which included Judge Thomas. The motions were later denied and the court then imposed sentence in accordance with the jury's verdict.
On June 18, 1969, Murray filed a direct appeal in this Court and on October 9th, oral argument and written briefs were submitted on his behalf. On March 20, 1970, we affirmed the judgment. See 437 Pa. 326, 263 A.2d 886 (1970). A timely petition for reargument was denied. During the trial proceedings, Murray was represented by Allen N. Brunwasser, Esq., self-retained counsel. After the trial, Mr. Brunwasser was permitted to withdraw, because Murray told the court 'he didn't want' Brunwasser to represent him any further. By court appointment, the Public Defender represented Murray in the prosecution of the post trial motions and the appeal in this Court.
On January 8, 1971, Murray filed a petition pro se seeking post conviction relief wherein he complained, inter alia, of the effectiveness of the Public Defender in the prosecution of the post trial motions in the trial court, and his direct appeal in this Court. [1] The trial court dismissed the petition without hearing, but we subsequently vacated this order and remanded the record directing that a hearing be conducted. See 445 Pa. 546, 284 A.2d 778 (1971). An evidentiary counseled hearing followed before Judge Thomas, the trial judge. Later Judge Thomas ruled Murray's complaint of ineffective post trial counsel was without merit, and again dismissed the petition seeking post conviction relief. This appeal was then filed. [2] In dismissing the petition for post conviction relief, Judge Thomas filed an opinion with supporting reasons, plus a Certificate under Rule 1506 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, 19 P.S. Appendix, setting forth 'the post trial events to the best of the court's recollection . . ..'
At the post conviction relief hearing, Murray offered nothing to substantiate his claim he was denied effective counsel in the prosecution of the direct appeal to this Court, other than the fact that he filed his own brief with this Court in support of the appeal. The record shows that his then counsel, an attorney from the office of the Public Defender, filed a brief in this Court separate and apart from Murray's brief, [3] and also presented oral argument before this Court in support of the appeal. This attorney testified at the post conviction relief hearing that he studied the trial record thoroughly and presented every argument on Murray's behalf which he considered relevant and having merit. It is obvious from the above, Murray's claim of ineffective counsel in the prosecution of his direct appeal is without a scintilla of substance.
At the post conviction relief hearing Murray testified the office of the Public Defender refused to file a brief in the trial court in support of the post trial motions and, as a result, he was compelled to prepare the brief personally without legal assistance. [4] The record substantiates and the hearing court so found that this course was followed because Murray 'insisted' on preparing the brief himself. While we do not condone the failure of the office of the Public Defender to prepare and file a separate brief on Murray's behalf, we do not feel Murray may now meritoriously complain of a procedure he knowingly influenced.
Finally, Murray testified at the post conviction relief hearing that his attorney failed to adequately argue the post trial motions before the trial court and, as a result, he was compelled to make 'the main' argument himself. [5] It is undisputed that an attorney from the Public Defender's office presented oral argument to the court in support of the post trial motions following which Murray requested and was given permission by the court to make additional argument. Also, the attorney who appeared before the court on Murray's behalf at this time testified at the post conviction relief hearing he was not adequately prepared to argue these motions on the date they were submitted to the court for decision. [6] However, based on his own recollection, fortified by detailed notes he made at the time of argument, Judge Thomas found Murray's then counsel argued the motions 'very vehemently' and was adequately prepared. In view of everything disclosed by the record, we are not persuaded Judge Thomas erred in this finding.
There is no question but that Murray was entitled to effective counsel at all times during the appellate process. Cf. Commonwealth v. Stein, 436 Pa. 330, 260 A.2d 467 (1969). However there is a presumption counsel is competent (Commonwealth ex rel. Washington v. Maroney, 427 Pa. 599, 235 A.2d 349 (1967)), and a...
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