Opinion ID: 1595978
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Lewis' plea testimony

Text: Dukes also argues that his trial counsel was ineffective because counsel requested admission of the entire Lewis plea transcript. Dukes asserts that the admission of the most incriminating statements was the result of a request by his counsel. Dukes misstates the record. Dukes' attorney objected to the admission of statements implicating Dukes. Once it became clear that the incriminating statements would be admitted, then, and only then, did Dukes' counsel request admission of Lewis' complete plea testimony so that the statements could be heard in context. Even if Dukes' argument had merit, this claim was known, but not raised, on direct appeal. Robinson, 567 N.W.2d at 495. Unlike the admission of guilt claim, this claim could have been decided based on the record without an evidentiary hearing. There is no need for the court to inquire into the conversations between attorney and client to determine whether Dukes' attorney was ineffective in his handling of the Lewis plea testimony. We conclude that the postconviction court correctly found that Dukes was procedurally barred from raising the claim that his trial counsel was ineffective in his advocacy relating to the admission of the Lewis plea testimony.