Opinion ID: 886072
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to Investigate Enger's Reputation

Text: ¶ 24 Hagen contends that his trial counsel failed to investigate or offer evidence of James Enger's reputation for violence, heavy drinking and trouble-making. Hagen asserts that the introduction of such evidence would have impacted Enger's credibility as a witness. According to Hagen, his trial counsel's decision not to pursue an investigation of Enger was based solely on his misunderstanding of the law and mistaken belief that such evidence would be inadmissible. Based on that error, Hagen asserts his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel. ¶ 25 The State, on the other hand, argues that while Hagen may have informed his trial counsel of Enger's reputation, the record is silent as to whether Hagen's trial counsel conducted any investigation into the matter. The State also contends that any assertion that Hagen's trial counsel misunderstood the law is mere speculation, and that Hagen's trial counsel had sufficient tactical reasons to avoid introducing any evidence of Enger's reputation. The State's contentions are well taken. ¶ 26 Trial counsel has a duty to either conduct a reasonable investigation or make a reasonable decision that a particular investigation is unnecessary. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 691, 104 S.Ct. at 2066. Here, however, we cannot determine from the record whether Hagen's trial counsel investigated Hagen's assertions, and, if he did, what tactical reasons were considered for not introducing that information at trial. The burden was on Hagen to demonstrate ineffectiveness and Hagen's trial counsel did not testify at the evidentiary hearing. A silent record cannot rebut the strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional assistance. State v. Langford (1991), 248 Mont. 420, 432, 813 P.2d 936, 946 ( quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S.Ct. at 2065). Therefore, we conclude that ineffective assistance for failure to investigate or prove Enger's reputation has not been established.