Opinion ID: 2178547
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Effective assistance of counsel on appeal.

Text: Sims also contends he should be permitted to relitigate the question of ineffective trial counsel because he was ineffectively represented by attorney William Gilliam on his direct appeal and the consolidated appeal from the first denial of postconviction relief. Of course the right to effective assistance of counsel also applies to assistance of counsel on appeal. Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 744, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 1400, 18 L.Ed.2d 493, 498 (1967); Hinkle, 290 N.W.2d at 31. The same standards applied to trial counsel competency should apply in measuring the competency of appellate counsel. Hinkle, 290 N.W.2d at 31. One attorney-witness called by Sims in this proceeding testified it would be customary procedure to raise on appeal non-frivolous issues which had been raised and protected below. However, he also testified he certainly wouldn't say that an attorney who does not include every possible ground for appeal was incompetent. A second attorney-witness testified similarly that whether to raise a particular ground for reversal was a judgment call. Sims testified he tried to avoid indicating to Gilliam which issues to appeal. He further testified he knew the issue of Nadler's effectiveness had not been raised when he received copies of the appellate briefs from Gilliam. Nonetheless, he did not protest but just let it slide in later telephone conversations with Gilliam because he believed it was too late. Gilliam testified he examined the question of ineffective trial counsel and professionally concluded trial counsel's performance did not fall below the farce or mockery test. Although that was the expression used in our opinions when Sims was tried, we subsequently adopted the range of normal competency language in State v. Massey, 207 N.W.2d at 780. Our opinions do not reflect any substantial distinction in our consideration of trial counsel's services under either formulation. As the federal court observed in McQueen v. Swenson, 498 F.2d at 214, It was not intended that the `mockery of justice' standard be taken literally, but rather that it be employed as an embodiment of the principle that a petitioner must shoulder a heavy burden in proving unfairness. Thus we do not attach any significance to Gilliam's conclusion the former language applied, which conclusion was shared by Sims' counsel in this appeal. See Ogden v. State, 215 N.W.2d 335, 337-38 (Iowa 1974), where we used the Massey revised language in evaluating conduct of counsel that occurred in 1968 and 1969. Gilliam's testimony reflects his decision not to raise the effective trial counsel issue on appeal was in part a strategic or tactical one, to avoid diluting other issues actually raised. Cf. Hinkle, 290 N.W.2d at 31-32 (strategic decision not to raise issue of adequacy of psychiatric examination on direct appeal did not amount to ineffective assistance of counsel on appeal); Armento v. Baughman, 290 N.W.2d at 16-17 (strategic decision for joint trial not beyond range of normal competency); State v. Killpack, 276 N.W.2d at 372 (strategic decision not to assert intoxication defense did not constitute ineffective assistance); State v. Veverka, 271 N.W.2d 744, 750 (Iowa 1978) (tactical decision not to request instructions on lesser included offenses did not establish ineffective assistance claim); and State v. Rand, 268 N.W.2d 642, 649 (Iowa 1978) (decision whether to assert particular defense, even if viable, is strategic and should not furnish grounds for reversal). Although Sims has not raised the question directly, we conclude the section 663A.8 knowing, voluntary and intelligent waiver which prevents relitigating a ground may in most situations be made by counsel. Ordinarily, except for such basic decisions as to whether to plead guilty, waive a jury, or testify in his or her own behalf, the accused is bound by the tactical or strategic decisions made by counsel, even those rising to constitutional dimensions. See Wainwright v. Sykes, 433 U.S. 72, 93 n.1, 97 S.Ct. 2497, 2510 n.1, 53 L.Ed.2d 594, 612 n.1 (1977) (Burger, C. J., concurring); Estelle v. Williams, 425 U.S. 501, 512, 96 S.Ct. 1691, 1697, 48 L.Ed.2d 126, 135 (1976); United States v. Guerra de Aguilera, 600 F.2d 752, 753 (9th Cir.1979); State v. LaMar, 224 N.W.2d 252, 254 (Iowa 1974); ABA Project on Standards for Criminal Justice, The Prosecution Function and The Defense Function § 5.2, at 237-38 (1971). We hold Gilliam's election not to raise the ineffective trial counsel ground in the prior appeal was an effective section 663A.8 waiver, thus foreclosing the right to raise the ground again. We further hold Sims has not carried his burden to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that Gilliam's performance as appeal counsel fell below the range of normal competency. It follows he has not established sufficient reason for not having raised the ineffective trial counsel ground in the prior appeal. Section 663A.8 thus denies him the right to raise the issue now. See Hinkle, 290 N.W.2d at 31-32; Bledsoe v. State, 257 N.W.2d 32, 33-34 (Iowa 1977); Rinehart v. State, 234 N.W.2d 649, 657 (Iowa 1975). The judgment entered by trial court is affirmed. AFFIRMED.