Case Title: Price v. State

Citation: 482 N.E.2d 719

Docket Number: 184S25

State: indiana

Court: Indiana Supreme Court

Date: 1985-09-17T00:00:00Z

Document:
482 N.E.2d 719 (1985)
Ralph PRICE, Appellant,
v.
STATE of Indiana, Appellee.
No. 184S25.

Supreme Court of Indiana.
September 17, 1985.
*720 Susan K. Carpenter, Public Defender, Helanie C. Conour, Deputy Public Defender, Indianapolis, for appellant.
Linley E. Pearson, Atty. Gen., Joseph N. Stevenson, Deputy Atty. Gen., Indianapolis, for appellee.
DeBRULER, Justice.
This is an appeal from a denial of post-conviction relief. Appellant was convicted of murder in a jury trial; he received a forty-year sentence. This Court affirmed his conviction on direct appeal in Price v. State (1980), 274 Ind. 479, 412 N.E.2d 783.
Appellant raises two issues on appeal: (1) whether he had effective assistance of appellate counsel; and (2) whether he had effective assistance of trial counsel.
These are the facts pertinent to the appeal. On July 29, 1983, the post-conviction court held an evidentiary hearing on the petition for post-conviction relief. The court took the matter under advisement. On August 25, 1983, the post-conviction court denied the petition for post-conviction relief and entered its findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Popplewell v. State (1981), Ind., 428 N.E.2d 15.
Appellant argues that his appellate counsel in his first and direct appeal was ineffective. He contends that his appellate counsel failed to present an issue on direct appeal. Such issue was whether or not he was denied effective assistance of trial counsel in that trial counsel allegedly allowed him to proceed to trial wearing jail clothing. However, since the post-conviction court considered the issue of effective assistance of trial counsel on the merits, appellant has already received the relief he seeks here.
Appellant argues that the post-conviction court erred in not finding that he was denied effective assistance of trial counsel. He contends that trial counsel allowed him to proceed to trial in jail clothes. These guidelines are to be followed when reviewing ineffective assistance claims.
Here is the evidence supporting the post-conviction court's determination that trial counsel was not ineffective. Prior to trial, trial counsel made arrangements with appellant's relatives to bring civilian clothes for appellant to wear at trial. Appellant then told trial counsel that he wished to wear jail clothes at trial. Trial counsel attempted to dissuade appellant on at least two other occasions. Trial counsel had a clear discussion with appellant about the ramifications of wearing jail clothes at trial. The trial court determined that appellant *721 was competent to stand trial. This indicates that appellant, despite his despondency, was able to understand his trial counsel's advise concerning his decision to wear jail clothes at trial. The circumstances of this case do not demonstrate that trial counsel's assistance was deficient.
The denial of post-conviction relief is affirmed.
GIVAN, C.J., and PRENTICE and PIVARNIK, JJ., concur.
HUNTER, J., not participating.