It has long been recognized that Pennsylvania post-conviction petitioners enjoy a right to effective assistance of post-conviction counsel. Unfortunately, however, Pennsylvania courts have struggled to establish a workable standard for petitioners to vindicate this right when post-conviction counsel is ineffective—that is, until now. On Oct. 20, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held the current procedure for raising claims of ineffective assistance of post-conviction counsel could no longer "bear the weight of judicial scrutiny," was "pure dicta" when established, and ultimately, "deeply flawed." In a 40-page opinion, the court abolished long-standing Pennsylvania caselaw in favor of a "modified and flexible" approach designed to allow first time post-conviction petitioners to raise claims of ineffective assistance of post-conviction counsel at the first opportunity to do so, even if on appeal. See Commonwealth v. Bradley, No. 37 EAP 2020 (Pa. Oct. 20, 2021).