Com. v. Jordan, D. ( 2016 )

J-S66012-15
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
DAVID STANLEY JORDAN,
Appellant No. 1981 WDA 2014
Appeal from the PCRA Order of November 12, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
Criminal Division at No(s): CP-02-CR-0015182-2005
BEFORE: OLSON, STABILE and STRASSBURGER,* JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.: FILED JANUARY 06, 2016
Appellant, David Stanley Jordan, appeals from the order entered on
November 12, 2014 denying his second petition filed pursuant to the Post-
Conviction Relief Act (“PCRA”), 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9541-9546. We affirm.
This Court previously set forth the factual background of this case as
follows:
Tanail Lee Boyd a/k/a “Lee” (hereinafter “Lee”) testified that
prior to September 19, 2005, she knew [Appellant] as a result of
time spent at a house on Tioga Street. Lee further testified that
as a former drug addict she had frequented the Tioga Street
house, that it was a place to “use drugs,” and that she had seen
[Appellant] in the house. Lee stated that prior to September 19,
2005, she had refused [Appellant]’s offers for a ride.
Notwithstanding the same, on the night of September 19, 2005,
the victim Eddie Williams a/k/a “Baltimore” (hereinafter
“Williams[]”) and [Appellant] reached an agreement whereby
[Appellant] would drive [Lee and Williams] to Lowe’s in
exchange for a fee of $50.00. Lee further testified that they
were going to Lowe’s to use a stolen/forged check to buy goods,
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court
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which in turn would be sold to get money to buy drugs and to
pay [Appellant], either with cash, drugs[,] or both. During the
return trip from Monroeville, Lee stated that [Appellant] and
Williams[] “off and on, had little arguments all the way there and
back;” that they argued “about money, making sure, you know,
don’t play any games;” that [Appellant] “wants to get paid, and
[] he didn’t want any games;” and that “they were arguing
outside on Tioga about money you still haven’t given me
nothing.” After purchasing a DeWalt drill set, the trio returned
to Homewood, but problems arose and Lee was unable to
immediately sell the drill set. To reassure [Appellant] that he
would “get paid,” Lee obtained drugs on credit and the trio then
returned to the house on Tioga Street where the drugs were
shared with [Williams] and [Appellant]. Lee testified that she
witnessed [Appellant] use crack cocaine. . . . Lee testified that
she was eventually able to sell the DeWalt drill set and used the
money to buy cigarettes and more drugs, which she again
shared with [Appellant]. At some point during the night, the
parties reached some understanding that the drugs were
supposed to offset some, if not all, of the first jitney fare.
The next morning, a second trip was made, again to purchase
goods to sell for drugs and/or cash, at an agreed price of an
additional $50.00. Unsuccessful at Lowe’s, the trio proceeded to
Burlington, where Lee was able to purchase goods and a gift
card. The trio then drove to a house on Shetland Avenue so that
Lee could sell the gift card. While Lee was completing the sale,
[Appellant] exited the vehicle [and] approached Lee and the
buyer. [Appellant] had a conversation with the buyer, again,
about money. Lee testified that [Appellant] appeared upset by
the conversation. Nevertheless, after completing the sale,
[Appellant] and Lee returned to the vehicle at which time
[Appellant] began to holler and make repeated demands for
payment from Lee. Lee testified that [Appellant] reached over
[Williams] and grabbed a black case. Lee further testified that
[Appellant] exited the vehicle and walked around to [Williams]’
door and punched [Williams] on the left side of his face. Lee
then bent down to look for money and when she looked up saw
[Appellant] approaching the vehicle, [Williams] fall forward[,]
and hit his head.
Stephanie Ray Johnson testified that in September 2005, she
had been staying at the house on Tioga Street, a known crack
house, and that she was familiar with [Appellant] through their
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“using drugs.” . . . Johnson further testified that [Appellant]
stated that he was “going to get my money one way or the
other,” that [Williams] owed him money; that [Appellant] felt
cheated; and, that as time progressed [Appellant] became more
irritated with Lee and [Williams], about money.
At trial, Appellant testified in his own defense. The theory of the
defense was that this was essentially a case of self-defense.
Thus, Appellant testified that immediately prior to the stabbing,
he alighted from the vehicle, and when he did, a sheathed knife
fell out of the door pocket where it was stored. Appellant then
picked up the knife and placed it in his pocket. According to
Appellant, he then confronted Lee in an effort to receive
payment for the jitney services and while he was demanding
that Lee pay him, [Williams] charged Appellant.
During the ensuing altercation, Appellant testified that [Williams]
went for the knife and that Appellant then reached for it.
Appellant admitted that he gained control of the knife during the
altercation and that he “may have stabbed [him.]” Testimony at
trial showed that the victim died from a deep stab wound in the
chest.
Commonwealth v. Jordan, 965 A.2d 296 (Pa. Super. Dec. 9, 2008)
(unpublished memorandum), at 1-4 (internal citations, alteration, and
ellipses omitted).
Appellant was charged via criminal information with one count of
homicide.1 At the conclusion of a non-jury trial, Appellant was found guilty
of third-degree murder2 and was sentenced to 15 to 40 years’ imprisonment.
Appellant filed a direct appeal and this Court affirmed his judgment of
1
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2501.
2
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2502(c).
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sentence on December 9, 2008. Appellant did not seek further direct review
of his judgment of sentence.
Appellant filed a timely pro se PCRA petition. Counsel was appointed
and several amended petitions were subsequently filed on his behalf.
Included within two of those amended petitions was a claim that trial
counsel was ineffective for failing to call an expert witness to counter the
Commonwealth’s expert. Appellant sought funds during his first PCRA
proceeding to hire an expert witness to provide testimony that would
establish the stabbing was in self-defense. The PCRA court, however, did
not provide the funds. Appellant subsequently proceeded on a claim that
trial counsel was ineffective for failing to properly cross-examine Lee.
Eventually, the PCRA court held an evidentiary hearing on this sole claim and
denied relief. See generally Commonwealth v. Jordan, 38 A.3d 929 (Pa.
Super. Nov. 22, 2011) (unpublished memorandum), at 1-2, appeal denied,
40 A.3d 1234 (Pa. 2012). This Court affirmed the PCRA court’s ruling and
our Supreme Court denied allowance of appeal.
Appellant subsequently filed a pro se habeas corpus petition in the
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The
Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Pennsylvania was
appointed to represent Appellant in his habeas proceeding. That action was
later stayed to permit Appellant to proceed with the instant PCRA petition.
Jordan v. Capozza, 2:13-cv-74 (W.D. Pa. Apr. 8, 2014).
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Appellant’s federally appointed counsel hired Dr. Charles Wetli, a
forensics pathologist, to review Appellant’s case. On April 1, 2014, Dr. Wetli
issued his report. Thereafter, on May 28, 2014, Appellant, through the
Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Pennsylvania, filed this,
his second, PCRA petition.3 Appellant argued that he was denied effective
assistance of counsel because trial counsel failed to hire an expert witness to
determine whether he killed Williams in self-defense. The PCRA court held
evidentiary hearings on September 30 and October 22, 2014. On November
12, 2014, the PCRA court denied the petition after determining that it was
untimely.
Appellant presents two issues for our review:
1. Where [Appellant] is incarcerated, indigent, and at the mercy
of the courts to appoint an expert and where the courts
refused to grant [Appellant]’s repeated requests for a
forensics expert during the timely filed PCRA proceedings, has
[Appellant] established that the evidence a recently retained
forensic expert provided was both (i) unknown to him and (ii)
unable to be ascertained by the exercise of due diligence,
within the meaning of 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9545(b)(1)(ii)?
2. Where [Appellant] is incarcerated, indigent, and at the mercy
of the courts to appoint an expert and where the courts
refused to grant [Appellant]’s repeated requests for a
forensics expert during the timely filed PCRA proceedings,
although it was clear that expert assistance was reasonably
3
In In re Commonwealth's Motion to Appoint Counsel Against or
Directed to Def. Ass'n of Phila., 790 F.3d 457 (3d Cir. 2015), the United
States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit held that federal law preempted
the Commonwealth’s attempt to have federal public defenders removed as
counsel in PCRA proceedings.
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necessary to the preparation and presentation of [Appellant’s]
claims, has [Appellant] established that government officials
interfered with the timely presentation of his claims, within
the meaning of 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9545(b)(1)(i)?
Appellant’s Brief at 3.
“Crucial to the determination of any PCRA appeal is the timeliness of
the underlying petition. Thus, we must first determine whether the instant
PCRA petition was timely filed.” Commonwealth v. Smith, 35 A.3d 766,
768 (Pa. Super. 2011), appeal denied, 53 A.3d 757 (Pa. 2012). The
timeliness requirement for PCRA petitions “is mandatory and jurisdictional in
nature, and the court may not ignore it in order to reach the merits of the
petition.” Commonwealth v. Hernandez, 79 A.3d 649, 651 (Pa. Super.
2013) (citation omitted). “The question of whether a petition is timely raises
a question of law. Where the petitioner raises questions of law, our standard
of review is de novo and our scope of review plenary.” Commonwealth v.
Taylor, 65 A.3d 462, 468 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citations omitted).
A PCRA petition is timely if it is “filed within one year of the date the
judgment [of sentence] becomes final.” 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9545(b)(1). “[A]
judgment becomes final at the conclusion of direct review, including
discretionary review in the Supreme Court of the United States and the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, or at the expiration of time for seeking the
review.” 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9545(b)(3). As Appellant did not seek allowance of
appeal on direct review, Appellant’s judgment became final on January 8,
2009, 30 days after this Court’s December 9, 2008 decision affirming his
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judgment of sentence. Appellant’s present petition, his second, was filed on
May 28, 2014. Thus, the petition was patently untimely.
An untimely PCRA petition may be considered if one of the following
three exceptions applies:
(i) the failure to raise the claim previously was the result of
interference by government officials with the presentation of the
claim in violation of the Constitution or laws of this
Commonwealth or the Constitution or laws of the United States;
(ii) the facts upon which the claim is predicated were unknown
to the petitioner and could not have been ascertained by the
exercise of due diligence; or
(iii) the right asserted is a constitutional right that was
recognized by the Supreme Court of the United States or the
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania after the time period provided in
this section and has been held by that court to apply
retroactively.
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9545(b)(1)(i-iii). If an exception applies, a PCRA petition
may be considered if it is filed “within 60 days of the date the claim could
have been presented.” 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9545(b)(2).
Appellant first argues that he satisfied the newly-discovered fact
exception to the PCRA’s timeliness requirement. Specifically, Appellant
argues that Dr. Wetli’s April 1, 2014 expert report was a newly-discovered
fact that proved his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to hire and call an
expert witness to rebut Commonwealth expert Dr. Bennet Omalu’s
testimony. Appellant further contends that because he filed this, his second,
PCRA petition within 60 days of Dr. Wetli’s report that his petition satisfied
the newly-discovered fact exception. In order to satisfy this exception,
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Appellant must plead and prove that “1) the discovery of an unknown fact;
2) the fact could not have been learned by the exercise of due diligence; and
3) the petition for relief was filed within 60 days of the date that the claim
could have been presented.” Smith, 35 A.3d at 771.
We conclude that Appellant failed to plead and prove that Dr. Wetli’s
expert report was an unknown fact for purposes of the PCRA’s timeliness
exceptions. In Commonwealth v. Cross, 726 A.2d 333 (Pa. 1999), our
Supreme Court considered whether an expert’s changed opinion was an
unknown fact for the purposes of section 9545(b)(1)(ii). It held that such a
change of opinion was not an unknown fact. Id. at 335-336.
Two years later, our Supreme Court extended Cross and held that,
generally, a new opinion does not constitute an unknown fact for the
purposes of the PCRA’s newly-discovered fact exception. Specifically, our
Supreme Court stated that, “Certainly, in keeping with the rationale of
Cross, a completely new opinion uncovered after trial would also not be
recognized as [a newly-discovered fact].” Commonwealth v. Gamboa-
Taylor, 753 A.2d 780, 786 (Pa. 2000).
Appellant cites Commonwealth v. Fisher, 870 A.2d 864 (Pa. 2005),
in support of his argument that a new opinion can be deemed an unknown
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fact for the purposes of section 9545(b)(1)(ii).4 Fisher, however, supports
our conclusion that Dr. Wetli’s opinion cannot be an unknown fact under the
specific facts of this case. In Fisher, our Supreme Court held that an
expert’s affidavit was insufficient to invoke the newly-discovered fact
exception to the PCRA’s timeliness requirement. Id. at 871. Our Supreme
Court focused on the dates that new scientific research had begun and when
the results of such research had been published. Id.
4
Appellant relies upon the Commonwealth’s briefs filed in several cases,
inter alia, Fisher, as evidence that an expert opinion can be an unknown
fact. See Appellant’s Reply Brief at 2. This reliance, however, is misplaced.
As noted above, whether a petition is timely, and whether a petitioner has
satisfied a timeliness exception, implicates the subject matter jurisdiction of
the PCRA court. Thus, even assuming arguendo that the Commonwealth
conceded in certain cases that an expert’s opinion was an unknown fact, we
have an independent duty to ensure that the PCRA court possessed subject
matter jurisdiction. The Commonwealth also relies upon our Supreme
Court’s lack of discussion in several cases of whether an expert opinion can
be an unknown fact. See id. In each of those cases, however, our
Supreme Court rejected the petitioner’s claim that he had satisfied the
newly-discovered fact exception. If a petitioner fails to satisfy any of the
three requirements of the newly-discovered fact exception, the PCRA court,
and thus the appellate court charged with reviewing that decision, lack
subject matter jurisdiction over the case. It is unnecessary for our Supreme
Court to note if the petitioner failed to satisfy more than one of the elements
of the newly-discovered fact exception. Appellant does not cite to a single
case, and we are aware of none, where our Supreme Court or this Court
explicitly stated that a new expert opinion constituted an unknown fact when
all of the facts and scientific bases for the expert’s opinion were known at
the time of trial. Indeed, such a conclusion would jettison the concept of
finality from our criminal jurisprudence. If expert opinions, standing alone,
satisfied the newly-discovered fact exception, then nothing would stop an
unsuccessful and out-of-time PCRA petitioner from filing serial petitions that
invoke the timeliness exception found at section 9545(b)(1)(ii) based upon
new opinions proffered by recently-retained experts.
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The same thing occurred in Commonwealth v. Edminston, 65 A.3d
339 (Pa. 2013). In Edminston, our Supreme Court rejected the petitioner’s
claim that he satisfied the newly-discovered fact exception because the new
scientific research relied upon by the expert was available for several years
prior to the petitioner filing his untimely PCRA petition. Id. at 352.
Read together, Cross, Gamboa-Taylor, Fisher, and Edminston
indicate that a new opinion offered after trial may be considered an unknown
fact only where a new scientific technique becomes available after trial and
an expert bases his opinion on that new scientific technique. Similarly, if an
expert’s opinion is based upon a fact which was unknown at the time of trial
it may qualify as an unknown fact. For example, if the murder weapon is
found after the trial and the expert’s opinion is based upon the newly-
discovered murder weapon, a petitioner would have a colorable argument
that the expert’s opinion was an unknown fact.
In this case, all of the facts upon which Dr. Wetli’s April 1, 2014 expert
report was based were known at the time of trial. There were no new facts
discovered which formed the basis of Dr. Wetli’s expert report. See
Appellant’s Brief at 28-31 (setting forth Dr. Wetli’s findings and the factual
basis thereof, all of which came from the trial record). Likewise, Dr. Wetli’s
expert opinion is not based upon new scientific research which became
available after Appellant’s trial. Instead, all of the facts and scientific
knowledge upon which Dr. Wetli’s report were based were known at the time
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of trial. Accordingly, Dr. Wetli’s expert opinion does not qualify as an
unknown fact for the purposes of section 9545(b)(1)(ii). As such, Appellant
failed to satisfy the newly-discovered fact exception to the PCRA’s timeliness
requirement.
Appellant next argues that his petition satisfies the governmental
interference timeliness exception. He argues that the PCRA court interfered
with his rights by refusing to appoint an expert witness during the pendency
of his first, timely PCRA petition. He argues that because he is indigent and
could not afford an expert during the first PCRA proceedings, the denial of
his request for an expert was governmental interference. Appellant further
argues that this Court’s decision not to expressly address the PCRA court’s
decision not to appoint an expert witness constituted governmental
interference.
Although actions by courts, court personnel, district attorneys, and
defense counsel generally cannot be the basis for a governmental
interference claim, Appellant is correct that in limited circumstances a court’s
action (or inaction) can be considered governmental interference. See
Commonwealth v. Blackwell, 936 A.2d 497 (Pa. Super. 2007). In
Blackwell, the PCRA court incorrectly notified the petitioner that his counsel
had withdrawn. Id. at 502. In this case, the PCRA court did not mislead the
Appellant or give him a false impression of where his request for the
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appointment of an expert stood. Instead, the PCRA court acted upon the
petition in due course.
This is more similar to another case cited by Appellant,
Commonwealth v. Burton, 936 A.2d 521 (Pa. Super. 2007). In Burton,
the PCRA court informed the petitioner that his criminal record would need
to be located in order for his PCRA petition to be considered. The petitioner
therefore delayed the filing of his PCRA petition because the record had not
been found. When he finally filed an untimely PCRA petition, he pled the
governmental interference exception. This Court held that the governmental
interference exception did not apply because the court’s advice was correct.
Id. at 527. In this case, the PCRA court’s ruling was timely conveyed to
Appellant. There was nothing legally incorrect, per se, about the ruling.
Although Appellant argues the ruling was an abuse of discretion, that does
not rise to the level of interference by government officials with the
presentation of the claim in violation of the laws or constitutions of
Pennsylvania or the United States.
As Appellant candidly admits in his brief, the decision on whether to
appoint an expert witness is within the sound discretion of the PCRA court.
See Appellant’s Brief at 50-51; Commonwealth v. Reid, 99 A.3d 470, 506
(Pa. 2014) (PCRA court did not abuse its discretion by denying petitioner’s
request for funds to hire an expert witness to prove trial counsel’s
ineffectiveness). Appellant cites to no authority, and we are likewise
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unaware of any authority, holding that a court’s denial of a request for
appointment of an expert witness constitutes governmental interference. To
the contrary, our Supreme Court’s statements in similar cases indicate that a
PCRA court’s refusal to allocate the amount of funds requested for an expert
witness does not violate the Pennsylvania or United States constitutions.
See Commonwealth v. Paddy, 15 A.3d 431, 469-470 (Pa. 2011)
(“Appellant seems to suggest that the PCRA court was required to grant him
the specific amount of public funds he demanded for expert and
investigative services, but he cites no legal authority to support such a
claim, and we are aware of none.”).
Like the petitioner in Paddy, Appellant relies on Ake v. Oklahoma,
470 U.S. 68 (1985) to support his argument that he was entitled to an
expert during the pendency of his first PCRA petition. See Appellant’s Brief
at 51. As our Supreme Court explained in Paddy, however, Ake was limited
to circumstances where an individual seeks a mental health expert to argue
insanity or to rebut arguments related to future dangerousness.5 Paddy, 15
A.3d at 470, citing Commonwealth v. Blakeney, 946 A.2d 645, 659 (Pa.
2008).
Paddy was not the first time our Supreme Court rejected a claim
similar to the one presently before us. In Commonwealth v. Howard, 788
5
Arguments as to future dangerousness can only be made during the
penalty phase.
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A.2d 351 (Pa. 2002), the petitioner sought to invoke the governmental
interference exception by “claiming that the first PCRA court’s failure to
disburse [funds for a private investigator] hampered [his] efforts to develop
a claim that prior counsel was ineffective for failing to raise mental health
claims.” Id. at 354. Our Supreme Court rejected Howard’s argument and
held that a lawful court order cannot be considered governmental
interference. Id. In this case, this Court previously held that the first PCRA
court did not err by refusing to appoint an expert witness during the
pendency of Appellant’s first, timely PCRA petition. Thus, the PCRA court’s
order was lawful and this lawful act by the PCRA court (and this Court) did
not constitute governmental interference for the purposes of the PCRA’s
timeliness exception.
Appellant argues that there was no court order because the PCRA
court did not directly rule on his request for an appointment of an expert
witness. The court, however, denied Appellant’s first PCRA petition. That
order was clearly lawful and thus falls within the purview of Howard.
Appellant also argues that even if the order denying his first petition was a
court order, it was not a proper court order. We, however, are bound by the
law of the case, as a previous panel of this Court implicitly held that the
PCRA court’s order was a proper court order. Thus, Appellant’s attempts to
distinguish this case from Howard are unavailing.
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Appellant also relies on Justice Marshall’s dissent from denial of
certiorari in Johnson v. Oklahoma, 484 U.S. 878 (1987) (Marshall, J.
dissenting). In that dissent, Justice Marshall stated that “when a State
brings criminal proceedings against an indigent defendant, it must take
steps to ensure that the accused has a meaningful opportunity to present a
defense.” Id. at 879-880. Justice Marshall’s dissent, however, dealt with a
direct criminal appeal and speaks with respect to preparing a defense at
trial. Nowhere in the dissent does he state, or even imply, that the same
rules should apply in collateral proceedings like the case at bar.
Appellant argues that the principles outlined in Justice Marshall’s
dissent in Johnson have been extended by Pennsylvania courts to include
post-conviction proceedings. In support of this argument, Appellant cites
Commonwealth v. Howard, 719 A.2d 233 (Pa. 1998) (“Howard 1998”).
In Howard 1998, however, our Supreme Court only noted that PCRA courts
have the ability to appoint expert witnesses when deemed necessary for the
presentation of a petitioner’s claim. Id. at 241-242. Our Supreme Court did
not hold that such appointment was necessary under the Pennsylvania
constitution. See also Commonwealth v. Bell, 706 A.2d 855, 862 (Pa.
Super. 1998).
Furthermore, the lack of funds for an expert witness can be challenged
on appeal from the denial of a timely PCRA petition. That is what occurred
in this case. In fact, these circumstances explain why Appellant argues that
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this Court interfered with his constitutional rights. Although this Court did
not directly address Appellant’s expert witness claims during the PCRA
appeal, that does not mean that this Court improperly interfered with the
presentation of any claim. Appellant misunderstands the appellate process.
Frequently, this Court, and appellate courts around the nation, only address
those issues which they believe deserving of explanation. See In re
D.M.W., 86 A.3d 235, 235 (Pa. Super. 2014), appeal denied, 97 A.3d 745(Pa. 2014) (“We have reviewed the remaining issues in light of the facts in
the record and the applicable law and find them to be without merit and not
warranting discussion in a written decision.”); Commonwealth v. Hook,
512 A.2d 718, 719 (Pa. Super. 1986). Although this Court failed to explicitly
acknowledge that we had considered all of Appellant’s remaining arguments,
such acknowledgment was implied by affirming the PCRA court’s order
denying his first PCRA petition. See In re Felt, 255 F.3d 220, 225-26 (5th
Cir. 2001), citing Knotts v. United States, 893 F.2d 758, 761 (5th Cir.
1990) (appellate court implicitly rejected argument when it was fully briefed
and the appellate court affirmed the opinion below); United States v.
Wogan, 972 F.2d 337 (1st Cir. 1992); Mirchandani v. United States, 836
F.2d 1223, 1225 (9th Cir. 1988); cf. Commonwealth v. Williams, 69 A.3d
735, 742 (Pa. Super. 2013), appeal denied, 83 A.3d 415 (Pa. 2014)
(sentencing court can implicitly consider sentencing factors). The decision to
affirm the PCRA court’s order did not interfere with Appellant’s constitutional
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rights. As noted above, except in very limited circumstances, there is no
constitutional right to expert witnesses in collateral proceedings.
Finally, even if Appellant were able to satisfy one of the exceptions to
the PCRA’s one-year time-bar, he would be ineligible for relief. In order to
be eligible for relief under the PCRA, the allegation of error must not have
been previously litigated or waived. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9543(a)(3). An issue is
previously litigated if “it has been raised and decided in a proceeding
collaterally attacking the conviction or sentence.” 42 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 9544(a)(3); Commonwealth v. Phillips, 31 A.3d 317, 320 (Pa. Super.
2011) (citation omitted).
In the appeal of the denial of his first PCRA petition, Appellant argued
“that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to obtain and call an expert
witness to counter the testimony of Commonwealth expert Dr. Bennet
Omalu regarding the non-defensive nature of the victim’s wounds.”
Commonwealth v. Jordan, 38 A.3d 929 (Pa. Super. Nov. 22, 2011)
(unpublished memorandum), at 5. This Court determined that Appellant’s
argument was without merit. See id. at 5-7. Appellant sought leave to
appeal this Court’s decision and our Supreme Court denied allowance of
appeal. Therefore, Appellant’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel has
been raised and decided in a previous PCRA proceeding. Thus, the issue of
trial counsel’s ineffectiveness for failing to call an expert witness to support
Appellant’s self-defense theory has been previously litigated.
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In sum, Appellant’s second PCRA petition was untimely on its face. We
have carefully considered all of the arguments presented in Appellant’s brief
with respect to the exceptions to the PCRA’s one-year time-bar and find
them to be without merit. Appellant failed to satisfy the newly-discovered
fact exception or the governmental interference exception to the PCRA’s
one-year time-bar. As such, the PCRA court correctly determined that it
lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate Appellant’s second PCRA petition on the
merits. Furthermore, even if the PCRA court possessed jurisdiction over
Appellant’s second PCRA petition, Appellant was ineligible for relief because
his claim was previously litigated.
Appellant’s application to file reply brief out-of-time granted. Order
affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 1/6/2016
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