Opinion ID: 388809
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Corder Claims Ineffective Assistance Of Counsel

Text: 59 On appeal, defendant Corder raises an issue that was not considered by the court below. By his own affidavit and through the arguments of a newly appointed counsel, Corder makes serious allegations concerning the incompetency of his counsel at trial. These allegations range from insufficient preparation and failure to put on a defense of Corder independent of the other defendants, to personal problems that allegedly distracted Corder's attorney during the trial. As relief, Corder requests this Court to order a hearing on these matters in the trial court, staying his appeal pending the outcome of the trial court hearings. If true, these allegations would constitute a serious denial of Corder's Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel. 60 While we are troubled by these allegations, there are serious problems in ordering such a stay or hearing on the present record. First, this type of allegation is more appropriately dealt with by the district court. Procedurally, several vehicles are available, including Rule 33 of the Fed.R.Crim.P., Motion for a New Trial, or the collateral relief available to federal prisoners under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Second, examination of the record does not provide clear evidence of the ineffective assistance of counsel, the failures alleged being those of litigation strategy. Nor do we have the impressions and findings of the district judge to guide us. 61 For these reasons, it would be unwise to order the district court to hold such a hearing. The problem is not ripe for adjudication on the appellate level. If, however, the district court chooses to hold such a hearing, it would be well within its discretion. The judge in this case presided over a trial which took an extensive time period to try, and has, no doubt, formed clear impressions regarding the performance of the counsel concerned.