Pennsylvania Court Denies Post-Conviction Relief to Death-Row Prisoner Albert Reid, Remands on Competency Issue

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has, with one exception, affirmed a trial court ruling denying death-row prisoner Albert Reid’s post-conviction challenge to his conviction and death sentence. In a 5-2 decision issued on September 22, 2021, the court upheld the decision of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas that dismissed Reid’s post-conviction petition. The court remanded the case on the question of Reid’s competency to stand trial and assist in his defense, saying the trial court had not sufficiently its reasons for denying that claim.

Former Chief Justice Thomas G. Saylor, joined by Justice Christine Donohue, dissented with respect to the denial of penalty-phase relief, saying Reid’s counsel had been ineffective for failing to investigate and present available mitigating evidence.