Opinion ID: 2042760
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: issues

Text: The defendant contends that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel. We have frequently stated that an attorney is strongly presumed to be competent. (citations omitted). Absent a glaring and critical omission or succession of omissions evidencing in their totality a mockery of justice, this Court will not attribute a criminal conviction or affirmation to ineffective representation. Kerns v. State, (1976) 265 Ind. 39, 41, 349 N.E.2d 701, 703; Merida v. State, (1979) Ind., 383 N.E.2d 1043, 1045. In an attempt to satisfy this standard the defendant asserts four (4) errors of counsel. The defendant contends that his counsel conducted no discovery. Failure to conduct discovery is a tactical matter, Cook v. State, (1980) Ind. App., 403 N.E.2d 860, 867, and the defendant has not shown that he was thereby hampered in the preparation of his case. The defendant contends that his counsel failed to move to suppress and failed to object to inculpatory statements that he had made. However, he shows no basis for suppression or objection, and we find none in the record. Hollon v. State, (1980) Ind., 398 N.E.2d 1273, 1278. The defendant contends that his counsel waived arraignment without consulting him. The arraignment is the procedure of bringing the accused before the court, notifying him, usually by reading the information or indictment, of the charges against him and asking for his plea. Andrews v. State, (1925) 196 Ind. 12, 146 N.E. 817. In court room vernacular, a waiver of the reading of the charge is often inaccurately referred to as a waiver of arraignment. The record of Defendant's arraignment reflects that the defendant appeared, without counsel and that the court appointed pauper counsel to represent him. Counsel then stated to the court: This is Donald M. Rodgers, Your Honor, age twenty. Waives arraignment and pleads not guilty and requests an early trial. It was the reading of the charge, however, that was dispensed with, not the arraignment, and there was a plea. Andrews v. State, supra . Defendant has made no attempt to show how he was harmed by this customary procedure, and we perceive none. It is the burden of appellants to show how they were harmed by the error complained of. Hester v. State, (1974) 262 Ind. 284, 315 N.E.2d 295 and cases there cited. In this case, Defendant has shown neither error nor harm. Lastly, the defendant contends that his counsel failed to object to the admission of certain testimony. The record shows that counsel objected to the testimony in question as the witness' drawing a conclusion, and the trial court properly sustained the objection. The record further discloses that trial counsel presented the defendant's case and vigorously cross examined the State's witnesses. We find that the defendant had effective assistance of counsel.