Opinion ID: 2458734
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Issue Three: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Text: Finally, Levy raises two instances in which he contends his attorneys were deficient in the proceedings before the district court. First, from the preliminary hearing, he argues his attorney should have asked the district court to order the testifying social worker to disclose more information about the person Levy now characterizes as an alternate suspectthe person also referred to by the victim as her dad during the interview. Second, during trial, Levy argues his attorney should have objected to admission of the exhibit containing both the lab report on the swabs taken during the victim's hospital examination and her underwear. Levy argues the exhibit was inadmissible due to chain of custody problems. As an alternative argument, Levy contends we should remand the case to the district court to order a hearing on his ineffective assistance of counsel claims in order to develop more facts. See State v. Van Cleave, 239 Kan. 117, Syl. ¶ 2, 716 P.2d 580 (1986). The State counters that this argument should not be considered for the first time on appeal and should be brought in a collateral proceeding rather than on direct appeal. The State also argues there is no basis to find Levy's counsel was ineffective. Again, before we can examine the merits, we must determine whether the issue was preserved. Levy did not raise an ineffective assistance of counsel claim below through a K.S.A. 60-1507 motion or otherwise. As a general rule, such claims will not be considered for the first time on direct appeal. Rowland v. State, 289 Kan. 1076, 1084, 219 P.3d 1212 (2009). In Rowland, we explained the rationale for this limitation is a recognition that the trial court is best equipped to deal with the analysis required for such claims because it observed counsel's performance and competence first-hand and can apply that knowledge to the facts. 289 Kan. at 1084, 219 P.3d 1212. Often, the pertinent questions are subject to conflicting testimony and evidence regarding counsel's actions or inactions, the significance to be given to them, and the strength or weakness of a particular argument. It is rare when the acts of counsel are not in dispute and so clearly reflected in the record that remand would serve no real purpose. State v. Carter, 270 Kan. 426, 433, 14 P.3d 1138 (2000). In Van Cleave, we set guidelines for an appellate court to follow in exercising its discretion when deciding whether to remand a case for an evidentiary hearing. See 239 Kan. at 119-21, 716 P.2d 580. In that case, we noted an appellant's counsel must do more than simply read the cold record of the proceedings before the district court and then argue that he or she would have handled the case differently. We held that counsel must attempt to determine the circumstances under which trial counsel didor did notproceed as the appellate counsel believes preferable and conduct at least some investigation into the claimed ineffectiveness. We then noted: Except in the most unusual cases, [for an appellate counsel] to assert a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel without an independent inquiry and investigation apart from reading the record is questionable to say the least. 239 Kan. at 120-21, 716 P.2d 580. Levy's claims fall quickly to these principles. He did not raise his ineffective assistance of counsel claims to the trial court. The general rule recited in Rowland is applicable. And in reviewing the factual basis for his claims now, we do not find them to be so clearly reflected in the record or indisputable that we can decide them simply on the record provided to us. Finally, we see no indication appellate counsel conducted any investigation to determine whether grounds for these claims exist. Accordingly, we hold that Levy's claims for ineffective assistance of counsel may not be considered for the first time on appeal. In addition, we hold he has failed to meet the minimal requirements established by Van Cleave to remand this issue to the district court. Affirmed.