Commonwealth v. Williams, Craig (Concurring Opinion)

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[J-265-1999] IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA EASTERN DISTRICT COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, : : Appellee : : : v. : : : CRAIG WILLIAMS, : : Appellant : : : : : No. 211 Capital Appeal Docket Appeal from the Order entered on 12/04/1997 in the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, Criminal Division at 2563-2565 May Term 1987 SUBMITTED: November 23, 1999 CONCURRING OPINION MR. JUSTICE CAPPY DECIDED: October 19, 2001 I join in the majority opinion. I find that the majority opinion provides a strong framework for PCRA proceedings, particularly in the details of how to plead and prove claims involving layered ineffectiveness and waiver. Counsel should be mindful of this framework, as it will be applied to all petitions filed after the filing date of this opinion. Hereafter, this court will enforce the plain language of the PCRA and only those pleadings which conform to the requirements of the PCRA will be entitled to full review on the merits. I recognize that not all of the principles articulated in the majority opinion were necessary to the disposition of the matter sub judice. I nonetheless wholeheartedly endorse the majority s attempt to provide a roadmap on the thorny issues arising in PCRA litigation. There are times when it is necessary to craft an opinion of broader scope in order to provide needed guidance on important issues of law. I believe that this is one of these occasions. [J-265-1999 - Cappy, J., concurring] - 2

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