Opinion ID: 1443930
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Denial of excess funds for post-conviction investigation

Text: Kirksey next argues that the district court should have granted his request for funds for an investigator to travel to California. Kirksey contends that the funds were necessary because, to be effective, his post-conviction counsel had to make a full investigation of possible mitigating evidence. The State responds that there is no right to effective assistance of post-conviction counsel and, thus, no requirement that the State provide an investigator. The State also contends, correctly, that it was within the district court's discretion to provide investigatory aid. State v. Apelt, 176 Ariz. 369, 861 P.2d 654, 660 (1993), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 115 S.Ct. 110, 130 L.Ed.2d 57 (1994). Moreover, although the district judge was unwilling to pre-approve funds for an investigation in California, he did appoint an investigator and stated that he would reconsider the California issue if post-conviction counsel could show that Kelesis had provided ineffective assistance. However, Kirksey's post-conviction counsel never asked the district court to reconsider the matter, and on June 22, 1993, the district court approved the payment of $5,000 in investigative fees. We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion and that post-conviction counsel was able to conduct an adequate investigation on Kirksey's behalf.