Commonwealth v. Villano

Opinion by

Me. Justice Roberts,

Appellant, claiming a denial of his direct appeal rights under Douglas v. California, 372 U.S. 353, 83 S. Ct. 814 (1963), petitioned for relief under the Post Conviction Hearing Act. * The petition was denied without a hearing, and appellant appealed pro se. The Superior Court, on motion of the Commonwealth, then remanded for the appointment of counsel. The Allegheny County Public Defender was appointed to represent appellant on the appeal. Counsel then merely xeroxed and submitted a brief wholly prepared by appellant. The Superior Court affirmed per curiam,…