Opinion ID: 885670
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Did the District Court err in dismissing Harris' post-conviction claim of ineffective assistance of counsel without an evidentiary hearing?

Text: ¶ 16 Harris first claims trial counsel Sheehy provided ineffective assistance when he failed to request the specific unanimity jury instruction and preserve the issue for appeal. We have concluded this particular instruction is not required as a matter of law in Harris' case, and hold counsel's performance was not deficient in this regard. ¶ 17 Harris next claims Sheehy's treatment of Harris' suppressed confession at trial constitutes ineffective assistance. The State argues that Harris waived any claim to ineffective assistance of counsel at the trial phase by not raising the issue on appeal. Harris counters that appellate counsel's failure to raise the claim of ineffective assistance constitutes ineffective assistance. ¶ 18 The right to effective assistance of counsel is guaranteed by Article II, Section 24, of the Montana Constitution and the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. In deciding ineffective assistance of counsel claims, we have adopted the two-prong approach elucidated in Strickland v. Washington (1984), 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674. See Hagen v. State, 1999 MT 8, ¶ 10, 293 Mont. 60, ¶ 10, 973 P.2d 233, ¶ 10. Under this test, the defendant bears the burden of showing that counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688, 104 S.Ct. at 2064; State v. Coates (1990), 241 Mont. 331, 337, 786 P.2d 1182, 1185. The defendant must overcome a strong presumption that counsel's defense strategies and trial tactics fall within a wide range of reasonable and sound professional decisions. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688-89, 104 S.Ct. at 2064-65. Accord, State v. Langford (1991), 248 Mont. 420, 432-33, 813 P.2d 936, 946. ¶ 19 The second prong of the Strickland test examines the prejudicial impact of counsel's errors, and the defendant must demonstrate the existence of a reasonable probability that the result of the proceeding would have been different absent counsel's unprofessional errors. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. at 2068; Strickler v. Greene (1999), 527 U.S. 263, 291, 119 S.Ct. 1936, 1953, 144 L.Ed.2d 286. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. at 2068. When a defendant challenges a conviction, the defendant must show the fact finder's reasonable doubt respecting guilt could have been routed by the unprofessional errors of counsel. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 695, 104 S.Ct. at 2068-69. In making this determination, a court must consider the totality of the evidence before the judge or jury. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 695, 104 S.Ct. at 2069. When alleged ineffective assistance does not prejudice the defendant to the degree that the outcome is implicated, the claim may be dismissed without evaluating counsel's performance. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697, 104 S.Ct. at 2069. ¶ 20 The State argues that the procedural bar to record-based post-conviction claims outlined in § 46-21-105(2), MCA, precludes Harris' petition for relief. This statute reads, in pertinent part: When a petitioner has been afforded the opportunity for a direct appeal of the petitioner's conviction, grounds for relief that were or could reasonably have been raised on direct appeal may not be raised, considered, or decided in a proceeding brought under this chapter. Section 46-21-105(2), MCA. ¶ 21 We recently examined the application of this rule to certain claims of ineffective assistance of counsel to distinguish those claims appropriately raised on appeal from those best dealt with by post-conviction petition. See State v. Whitlow, 2001 MT 208, ___ Mont. ___, 33 P.3d 877; State v. White, 2001 MT 149, ___ Mont. ___, 30 P.3d 340; State v. St. John, 2001 MT 1, 304 Mont. 47, 15 P.3d 970. The trial record must adequately document a challenged act or omission of defense counsel for a defendant to raise an ineffective assistance claim on appeal. Whitlow, ¶ 16 (citing Hagen, ¶ 12). In addition to documenting the error, the record available to this Court on appeal must afford sufficient understanding of the reasons for counsel's act or omission to answer the threshold question of whether the alleged error expresses a trial strategy or tactical decision. White, ¶ 20; State v. Rose, 1998 MT 342, ¶ 18, 292 Mont. 350, ¶ 18, 972 P.2d 321. If the record does not supply the reason for counsel's act or omission, the claim must be raised by petition for post-conviction relief. St. John, ¶ 40 (citations omitted). In deciphering the use of the record and the appropriate forum for adjudicating ineffective assistance claims, we explained: Though not easily distilled into a formula, the definitive question that distinguishes and decides which actions are record and which are non-record, is why? In other words, if counsel fails to object to the admission of evidence, or fails to offer an opening statement, does the record fully explain why counsel took the particular course of action? If not, then the matter is best-suited for post-conviction proceedings which permit a further inquiry into whether the particular representation was ineffective. Only when the record will fully explain why counsel took, or failed to take, action in providing a defense for the accused may this Court review the matter on direct appeal. White, ¶ 20. ¶ 22 When a tactical or strategic reason for defense counsel's alleged deficient performance is apparent in the record on appeal or proffered by counsel in post-conviction proceedings, the court must evaluate whether this underlying reason is reasonable before indulging the strong presumption demanded by Strickland that a tactical or strategic act falls within the wide range of reasonable and sound professional assistance. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688-89, 104 S.Ct. at 2064-65; Jones v. Wood (9th Cir.1997), 114 F.3d 1002, 1010. When a challenged act or omission reflects an unreasonable defense strategy, stems from neglect or ignorance, or results from a misunderstanding of the law, counsel's deficient performance meets the first prong of the Strickland test. State v. Aliff, 2001 MT 52, ¶ 13, 304 Mont. 310, ¶ 13, 21 P.3d 624, ¶ 13; State v. Gonzales (1996), 278 Mont. 525, 532, 926 P.2d 705, 710. ¶ 23 The record on appeal documented that Sheehy never requested a ruling from the trial court on the prosecution's use of Harris' suppressed confession for impeachment purposes. The trial court's deferral of the ruling preserved the issue for appeal should the prosecution refer to the confession at trial. However, counsel's decision to raise Harris's suppressed confession on direct examination created the opening for the prosecution to further question Harris on cross-examination and mooted the appealable issue. The record on appeal did not reveal whether Sheehy's acts and omissions sprang from tactical decisions based upon articulable trial strategies or reflected misunderstandings of the law and trial procedures. Consequently, we conclude that § 46-21-105(2), MCA, does not bar Harris' post-conviction assertion of ineffective assistance of counsel at trial because extra-record material is crucial in determining the merits of the claim. ¶ 24 Although the District Court supplemented the record with post-conviction pleadings from the parties, no additional information from counsel Sheehy sheds light on the threshold questions of why Sheehy failed to request a ruling from the court on the use of Harris' suppressed confession or why he chose to question Harris on direct examination regarding the incriminating statement. We do not know whether the alleged errors reflect a coherent trial strategy or whether they were reasonable and deserve deference. We refuse to speculate and, thus, are unable to evaluate Sheehy's performance. We remand to the District Court for an evidentiary hearing to address the first prong of the Strickland test. ¶ 25 Because the surviving ineffective assistance issues raised by Harris must be adjudicated in a post-conviction proceeding, the issue of appellate counsel's failure to raise a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel at the trial level is without merit. ¶ 26 Remanded. We Concur: KARLA M. GRAY, Chief Justice, and TERRY N. TRIEWEILER, JIM REGNIER and W. WILLIAM LEAPHART, JJ.