Opinion ID: 775311
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Eyewitness Identification Instruction Claim

Text: 72 Finally, we turn to Petitioner's argument that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise the argument that his trial counsel was ineffective for not requesting a cautionary instruction on eyewitness testimony. Under AEDPA, we inquire only whether the Appellate Division's rejection of this claim amounted to an unreasonable application of the Strickland standard. 28 U.S.C. 2254(d)(1). For reasons similar to those that support our rejection of Petitioner's double jeopardy claim, we hold that the Appellate Division's decision was not the product of an unreasonable application of Strickland. 73 Generally, this Court has concluded that counsel's failure to object to a jury instruction (or to request an additional instruction) constitutes unreasonably deficient performance only when the trial court's instruction contained clear and previously identified errors. Bloomer v. United States, 162 F.3d 187, 193 (2d Cir. 1998); see also McKee v. United States, 167 F.3d 103, 108 (2d Cir. 1999). Conversely, when a trial court's instruction is legally correct as given, the failure to request an additional instruction does not constitute deficient performance. United States v. Brooks, 82 F.3d 50, 54 (2d Cir. 1996); United States v. Javino, 960 F.2d 1137, 1145 (2d Cir. 1992). 74 The New York Court of Appeals has held that, although expanded identification instructions are preferable, especially when there is a close question of identity, the failure to give such an instruction does not constitute reversible error. People v. Whalen, 59 N.Y.2d 273, 278-279, 464 N.Y.S.2d 454, 451 N.E.2d 212 (1983); People v. Love, 244 A.D.2d 431, 664 N.Y.S.2d 91, 92 (2d Dep't 1997). A trial judge who gives a general instruction on weighing witnesses' credibility and who states that identification must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt has made an accurate statement of the law. Whalen, 59 N.Y.2d at 279. The decision whether or not to give an expanded instruction is left in the sound discretion of the trial judge.People v. Knight, 87 N.Y.2d 873, 874, 638 N.Y.S.2d 938, 662 N.E.2d 256 (1995). 75 Measured against these standards, the trial court's decision not to include an additional cautionary instruction on eyewitness testimony was not erroneous. The charge instructed the jury to assess the credibility of the witnesses. Furthermore, the trial judge repeatedly instructed the jury that they had to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was the perpetrator of every element of an offense before they could convict. Thus, the charge sufficed as an accurate statement of the law. Whalen, 59 N.Y.2d at 279. Because, under the circumstances, the jury instructions were not improper, the failure of Petitioner's trial counsel to object or request an additional instruction was not objectively unreasonable. Brooks, 82 F.3d at 54. And, just as in our disposition of Petitioner's double jeopardy claim, Petitioner's appellate counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise the meritless argument. 11 Jameson, 22 F.3d at 429-30. Under AEDPA, the Appellate Division did not unreasonably apply the Strickland standard in rejecting this claim.