Opinion ID: 888530
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: issues

Text: ¶ 27 Did the District Court err in denying DuBray's claim that his counsel on direct appeal was ineffective because he failed to raise the issues concerning attorney conflict of interest and DuBray's absence at critical stages of trial? ¶ 28 DuBray asserts that, had his counsel on direct appeal raised the issues set forth under Issues 2 and 3 above, his direct appeal would have resulted in automatic reversal of his conviction. As discussed above, the District Court determined DuBray's claims under those issues were procedurally barred from consideration in this postconviction relief proceeding. Nevertheless, the court discussed the merits of both and determined DuBray had not established ineffective assistance of appellate counsel on either. ¶ 29 DuBray reasserts his substantive arguments regarding his appellate counsel's failure to raise on appeal trial counsel's purported conflict of interest and failure to assure his presence at all critical stages of trial. He also argues that because the District Court considered an affidavit provided by his counsel on direct appealwhich affidavit was outside the trial recordthe court should have held a hearing regarding counsel's failure. ¶ 30 We first address DuBray's claim that the District Court erred in failing to hold a hearing on this issue. Although M.R.App. P. 12(1)(f) requires the appellant to provide citations to the authorities relied on, DuBray has cited no authority requiring a court to hold a hearing whenever it considers written materials filed in support of or in response to a petition for postconviction relief. It is not this Court's function to conduct legal research on the parties' behalf or to develop their legal analysis for them. State v. Zakovi, 2005 MT 91, ¶ 28, 326 Mont. 475, ¶ 28, 110 P.3d 469, ¶ 28 (citation omitted). DuBray has failed to establish that the District Court was required to hold a hearing on this issue. ¶ 31 We now turn to the merits of DuBray's claims of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. The criteria for establishing ineffective assistance of appellate counsel are the same as those used to establish ineffective assistance of trial counsel: whether counsel's performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and, if so, whether there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, the petitioner would have prevailed on appeal. Dawson v. State, 2000 MT 219, ¶ 147, 301 Mont. 135, ¶ 147, 10 P.3d 49, ¶ 147 (citations omitted). We observe that counsel has no constitutional obligation to raise every non-frivolous issue on appeal. See Jones v. Barnes, 463 U.S. 745, 754, 103 S.Ct. 3308, 3314, 77 L.Ed.2d 987 (1983). The presumption of effective assistance of counsel will be overcome only when ignored issues are clearly stronger than those presented. Smith v. Robbins, 528 U.S. 259, 287-88, 120 S.Ct. 746, 765, 145 L.Ed.2d 756 (2000) (citation omitted). ¶ 32 In his affidavit filed in response to DuBray's petition for postconviction relief, appellate counsel stated he considered 38 issues when drafting the appeal, but ultimately chose and briefed only the strongest 13 of those. Counsel stated the contentions DuBray faults him for failing to raise are not well supported in the record, and would have distracted from the arguments made. We agree. ¶ 33 To prevail on a conflict of interest claim, a defendant must show that (1) counsel actively represented conflicting interests; and (2) an actual conflict of interest adversely affected counsel's performance. State v. Deschon, 2002 MT 16, ¶ 18, 308 Mont. 175, ¶ 18, 40 P.3d 391, ¶ 18. In support of his argument that his appellate counsel should have raised a conflict of interest claim, DuBray established that trial counsel Lynch had previously represented State witness Keith on an unrelated matter. DuBray contends this resulted in inadequate cross-examination of Keith by Lynch. However, DuBray did not establish that Lynch represented him and Keith concurrently, or that Lynch represented Keith on any matter which related in any way to DuBray's criminal trial. Moreover, Olson's affidavit in response to the petition for postconviction relief states the defense team discussed Lynch's prior representation of Keith with DuBray, who told them he did not wish to discharge Lynch merely because Lynch had previously represented Keith. ¶ 34 In asserting that his appellate counsel should have argued he was deprived of his right to be present at all critical stages of the proceedings, DuBray advances State v. Musgrove, 178 Mont. 162, 582 P.2d 1246 (1978). In that case, the defendant was not present when the jury was taken to the place where the charged events had taken place. The controlling statute, § 95-1912, RCM (1947), provided that no person could speak or otherwise communicate with the jury on any subject in connection with the trial at a jury view. During the viewing in that case, the county attorney answered several questions by jurors concerning subjects such as the location of witnesses and the victim's body. We reversed, based on the occurrence of proceedings which amounted to the taking of testimony at the jury view. Musgrove, 178 Mont. at 170, 582 P.2d at 1251. ¶ 35 In the present case, during the jury's deliberations, the jury foreman approached the bailiff to report that one of the jurors claimed to be psychic. The District Court met with counsel and the foreman, who told the court there was no problem with any of the jurors and the juror who had informed two other jurors that she was a psychic was not the reason the jury had yet to reach a verdict. The court then conferred with counsel outside the foreman's presence, and finally met with counsel and the foreman again, instructing the foreman to return to the jury room and allow deliberations to move forward. DuBray I, ¶ 118. DuBray's counsel waived DuBray's presence at these discussions, which were on the record. DuBray has not alleged proceedings occurred outside his presence which amounted to the taking of testimony and, therefore, Musgrove does not support his position. ¶ 36 More recently, in State v. Riggs, 2005 MT 124, 327 Mont. 196, 113 P.3d 281, a defendant alleged the district court violated his right to be present at all critical stages of trialunder both the United States Constitution and the Montana Constitutionby speaking with two jurors outside his presence. Riggs, ¶ 42. The defendant based his arguments on the right to be present under both the federal and the Montana constitutions. We discussed at some length the importance of the constitutional right to be present at critical stages of criminal proceedings. Riggs, ¶¶ 46-52. We reasoned, however, that the defendant had made no persuasive claim of prejudice arising out of the episodes at which he was not present. We noted that the interactions between the judge and jurors were brief interludes in a complex trial, the defendant had no role to play at either, and, in each instance, defense counsel was consulted and consented to the court's approach. Riggs, ¶ 54 (citations omitted). ¶ 37 Similarly, here, the trial record establishes that interactions between the court and the jury foreman concerning the alleged psychic juror were brief interludes in a complex, monthlong trial, and defense counsel consented to the court's approach in addressing the foreman's concerns. While DuBray claims that, had he been present, he might have demanded that his attorneys act differently, such a claim is pure speculation, especially in light of the fact that he does not contest Olson's record statement that DuBray deferred to him on such matters anyway. ¶ 38 We hold DuBray has not established error in the District Court's denial of his claim that his counsel on direct appeal was ineffective in failing to raise the issues concerning attorney conflict of interest and DuBray's absence at critical stages of trial.