Commonwealth v. Lassiter

OPINION ANNOUNCING THE JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

CASTILLE, Justice.

This Court granted review in order to determine whether: (1) trial counsel was ineffective for failing to advise petitioner that the Commonwealth’s promise not to pursue the death penalty if she agreed to a bench trial constituted illusory consideration because the death penalty would not have applied had the matter gone before a jury; and (2) trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to appellant’s waiver of her right to a jury trial on the grounds that any waiver which is induced by the threat of the death penalty is…