Commonwealth v. Turner

OPINION OF THE COURT

FLAHERTY, Justice.

This case requires us to set forth the appropriate procedures for the withdrawal of court-appointed counsel in collateral attacks on criminal convictions. We deem it advisable to establish a procedure which is less cumbersome than that set forth in Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967) and Commonwealth v. McClendon, 495 Pa. 467, 434 A.2d 1185 (1981), which apply only in direct appeals from convictions.

The appellant and cross-appellee, Geary Turner, was convicted of second-degree murder in a non-jury trial before Judge…