Opinion ID: 852517
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Pre-Trial

Text: Overstreet contends that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance for failing to perfect a timely interlocutory appeal. The essential facts are these. Prior to trial, counsel filed a motion requesting the transcript and exhibits presented to the grand jury that was impaneled to investigate Scott's involvement in the death of Kelly Eckart. The trial court granted the motion. Thereafter counsel filed a motion specifically requesting the following additional grand jury information: comments made by the prosecutor when presenting the case to the grand jury, the instructions, and the charges or any information regarding the charges which the grand jury was considering. The trial court initially entered an order granting the motion. But upon the State's motion, the trial court reconsidered its order and, after conducting an in camera review of the requested information, denied counsel's motion. Counsel intended to pursue an interlocutory appeal from the trial court's order. But after missing the filing deadline, he tendered an appellant's brief to the Court of Appeals along with a motion for leave to file a belated appeal. The Court of Appeals denied the motion and dismissed the appeal. At the post-conviction proceedings, trial counsel testified that he sought the materials in order to challenge the manner in which the State presented to the grand jury Scott's involvement in Kelly Eckart's abduction and murder. The post-conviction court determined that trial counsel rendered deficient performance by missing the deadline for filing an appellate brief. However, the court found that Overstreet failed to establish he was prejudiced as a result of the failure. See Kitchen v. United States, 227 F.3d 1014, 1017 (7th Cir.2000) (finding that counsel was deficient in failing to pursue an appeal, but the deficiency was not prejudicial). We agree with the post-conviction court. At trial the State elicited testimony from Scott that he was a target of the grand jury investigation. Trial counsel aggressively cross-examined Scott, challenging his credibility, discussing his conduct on the night of the murder, and exploring his testimony before the grand jury. During closing remarks trial counsel argued that Scott's testimony was not worthy of belief. Overstreet has made no showing that the post-conviction court's finding is clearly erroneous.