Title: Anthony Sanders v. State

State: indiana

Issuer: Indiana Supreme Court

Document:

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT            ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE  
 Susan K. Carpenter                Steve Carter Public Defender of Indiana        Attorney General of Indiana 
 Ruth Johnson                    Adam M. Dulik Deputy Public Defender            Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana            Indianapolis, Indiana 
 
    IN THE 
 SUPREME COURT OF INDIANA 
 ANTHONY SANDERS, ) ) Appellant (Petitioner Below ), ) No. 49S02-0204-PC-223 ) in the Supreme Court v. ) ) No. 49A02-0104-PC-202 STATE OF INDIANA, ) in the Court of Appeals ) Appellee (Respondent Below ). ) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  APPEAL FROM THE MARION SUPERIOR COURT The Honorable Alex R. Murphy, Judge Pro Tempore Cause No. 49G02-8910-CF-123146 
 
  April 3, 2002   SHEPARD, Chief Justice. 
          Appellant Anthony Sanders was convicted of dealing in cocaine during a 1991 trial and found to be an habitual offender. The Court of Appeals affirmed. Sanders v. State, No. 49A02-9112-CR-563, slip op. (Ind. Ct. App. July 30, 1992).  
     Sanders sought post-conviction relief, asserting that the form of the habitual offender instruction was fundamental error and that trial and appellate counsel had been ineffective in failing to raise the error. The post-conviction court ruled against Sanders on both contentions. 
     The Court of Appeals reviewed the merits of both claims. It held that there had been no fundamental error and that counsel had not been ineffective. Sanders v. State, No. 49A02-0104-PC-202, slip op. (Ind. Ct. App. Oct. 31, 2002).  
     It was wrong to review the fundamental error claim in a post-conviction proceeding. As we explained in Canaan v. State, 683 N.E.2d 227, 235 n.6 (Ind. 1997), the fundamental error exception to the contemporaneous objection rule applies to direct appeals. In post-conviction proceedings, complaints that something went awry at trial are generally cognizable only when they show deprivation of the right to effective counsel or issues demonstrably unavailable at the time of trial or direct appeal.  
     We summarily affirm the Court of Appeals with respect to ineffective assistance of counsel. Ind. Appellate Rule 58(A)(2). 
     The post-conviction court is affirmed. 
 Dickson, Sullivan, and Boehm, JJ., concur. Rucker, J., concurs in result.