Opinion ID: 1836556
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Principles Underlying Ineffective-Assistance-of-Counsel Claims.

Text: This appeal is based on Fullenwider's claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, based on trial and appellate counsel's failure to (1) make an adequate record on the district court's rejection of the plea agreement, (2) challenge the sufficiency of the evidence of cocaine possession, (3) raise a federal due process claim, (4) object to a jury interrogatory, (5) object to certain jury instructions, and (6) object to the court's consideration of impermissible sentencing factors. We do not address all of the issues raised because some of them are rendered moot by our disposition of the case on other grounds. Our review of an allegation of ineffective assistance of counsel is de novo. State v. Bergmann, 600 N.W.2d 311, 313 (Iowa 1999). To establish a claim of ineffective assistance, the applicant must show (1) the attorney failed to perform an essential duty in representing the defendant and (2) prejudice resulted. State v. Ceaser, 585 N.W.2d 192, 195 (Iowa 1998). To prove a breach of an essential duty, the applicant faces a strong presumption that the performance of counsel falls within a wide range of reasonable professional assistance. State v. Hepperle, 530 N.W.2d 735, 739 (Iowa 1995). We will not secondguess reasonable trial strategy. State v. Wissing, 528 N.W.2d 561, 564 (Iowa 1995). The second prong of the ineffective-assistance test, prejudice, is shown if the applicant establishes a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2068, 80 L.Ed.2d 674, 698 (1984).