Opinion ID: 765436
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure to move to exclude or limit reference to prior convictions.

Text: 20 [9] Wilson argues that he was prejudiced by trial counsel's failure to move to exclude or limit reference to prior convictions and uncharged acts (heroin dealing) used to impeach him. To show prejudice under Strickland from failure to file a motion, Wilson must show that (1) had his counsel filed the motion, it is reasonable that the trial court would have granted it as meritorious, and (2) had the motion been granted, it is reasonable that there would have been an outcome more favorable to him. See Kimmelman v. Morrison, 477 U.S. 365, 373-74 (1986) (so stating with respect to failure to file a motion to suppress on Fourth Amendment grounds). 21 Wilson's convictions, assessed under California's Beagle factors for admissibility, see People v. Beagle, 492 P.2d 1, 8 (Cal. 1972); People v. Castro, 696 P.2d 111 (Cal. 1985), seem almost certainly admissible: all of Wilson's prior convictions were for crimes of moral turpitude, such as dealing drugs; none were so remote in time as to be inadmissible; they could not be excluded on the basis of similarity to current charges; and the admission of the convictions did not, in fact, affect his decision to testify. Wilson's uncharged conduct -dealing heroin for at least ten years -was also highly probative to the prosecution's attempt to rebut his defense that he was a helpless victim of drug addicts and, accordingly, was almost certainly admissible. See People v. Hawkins, 897 P.2d 574, 590-91 (Cal. 1995). Thus it is not reasonable to believe that the court would have granted a motion to exclude. 3 22 Wilson's further argument, that trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to focus on his client's criminal history during voir dire to discover potential juror prejudice and determine whether jurors could follow limiting instructions on such a history, also fails. The Supreme Court has stated that jurors are required only to lay aside . . . impression or opinion and render a verdict based on the evidence presented in court. Irwin v. Dowd, 366 U.S. 717, 72223 (1961). At voir dire, all jurors stated that they would be fair and would follow the law as instructed. Counsel's choice to rely on such a commitment, without emphasizing his client's criminal history, merits deference as a tactical decision. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. 23 Wilson also claims prejudice from counsel's failure to challenge juror Zwerdling. Because California law prohibits felons from carrying arms, Zwerdling's statement that he believed that felons should be barred from possessing arms was not so inherently prejudicial that trial counsel's decision to accept him can be deemed ineffective assistance of counsel. Cf. United States v. Quintero-Barraza, 78 F.3d 1344, 1349-50 (9th Cir. 1996) (holding that it was not ineffective assistance to seat a juror who stated a belief that persons on trial are guilty until proved innocent). 24