Commonwealth v. Staton

OPINION

Chief Justice CASTILLE.

In this direct capital appeal, which has yet to be briefed, appellant Andre Staton’s court-appointed counsel Thomas N. Farrell, Esquire (hereafter “counsel”), filed a Motion to Withdraw on July 21, 2010, alleging that appellant sent correspondence to counsel “terminating” counsel’s representation. Counsel believed that appellant’s correspondence created an obligation to move to withdraw. On the merits of the motion, however, counsel forwards a novel and cogent argument against withdrawal, which occasions this Opinion, and which we will discuss below. For the…