Criminal Law — Counsel for defendant — Appeal — Xeroxed copy of brief wholly prepared by appellant himself — Denial of right to effective assistance of counsel.
The filing by counsel of a brief which is merely a xeroxed copy of a brief wholly prepared by appellant himself constitutes a denial of appellant's right to effective assistance of counsel on appeal.
OPINION PER CURIAM, October 20, 1969:
Appellant's counsel in the Superior Court filed a brief which was merely a xeroxed copy of a brief wholly prepared by appellant himself. This clearly constitutes a denial of appellant's right to effective assistance of counsel on his appeal. Commonwealth v. Villano, 435 Pa. 273, 256 A.2d 468 (1969). The judgment of the Superior Court is therefore vacated and the case remanded so that the Superior Court may consider the appeal upon the filing of a brief properly prepared by counsel.