Opinion ID: 661464
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Castillo's Motion for a New Trial.

Text: 13 After his retrial, Castillo retained new counsel and moved for a new trial pursuant to Fed.R.Crim.P. 33. Rule 33 requires such motions to be made within seven days after verdict except in the case of newly discovered evidence; Castillo's motion was made outside the seven-day limit. Castillo argues that this limitation should not bar his motion for two reasons. First, he contends that his post-trial affidavit concerning counsel's alleged failure to allow him to testify was newly discovered evidence within the meaning of Rule 33 that allowed his motion for a new trial to be made up to two years after entry of judgment. Second, Castillo argues that his original counsel's failure to file a motion for a new trial within the seven day limit denied Castillo the effective assistance of counsel. 14 We ruled in United States v. Dukes, 727 F.2d 34, 39 (2d Cir.1984), however, that ineffective assistance claims do not present new evidence within the meaning of Rule 33. Furthermore, it can hardly constitute ineffective assistance to fail to present a claim via a Rule 33 motion that, as we have just held, is without merit. 15