Opinion ID: 895744
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Right to Testify in Own Defense

Text: [¶ 16] Foster's application for post-conviction relief included the issue of ineffective assistance of counsel. Foster claims that Mottinger denied him the right to testify at the trial on December 19 and 20, 1994. A criminal defendant has the right to decide whether to testify in his/her defense at trial. City of Bismarck v. Nassif, 449 N.W.2d 789, 797 (N.D.1989) (citing Rock v. Arkansas, 483 U.S. 44, 107 S.Ct. 2704, 97 L.Ed.2d 37 (1987)). [¶ 17] A hearing was held on May 28, 1995, to determine whether Foster had received ineffective assistance of counsel from Mottinger at the December 1994 trial. Foster represented himself at the hearing, and presented no evidence and offered no testimony. [¶ 18] Mottinger testified at the hearing under direct examination by the State that, during their first meeting before trial, Foster told Mottinger he did not want to testify because he had a prior record. Under cross-examination by Foster, Mottinger again stated that Foster never asked [him] to testify. There is no other evidence in the record. [2] In order to establish ineffective assistance of counsel, defendant must prove that his counsel's performance was defective and that his defense was prejudiced by the proven defects. Lange v. State of North Dakota, 522 N.W.2d 179, 181 (N.D. 1994) (citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984)). The trial court found Mottinger credible and concluded he had provided effective assistance of counsel to Foster at the December 1994 trial. This court applies the clearly erroneous standard set forth in Rule 52(a), N.D.R.Civ.P., when reviewing a trial court's findings of fact on an appeal from a final judgment or order under the Uniform Post-Conviction Procedure Act. State v. Skaro, 474 N.W.2d 711, 716 (N.D. 1991). However, ineffectiveness of counsel is a mixed question of law and fact and we have held such questions are fully reviewable by this court without the restraints of Rule 52(a), N.D.R.Civ.P. Id. at 717. We reach the same conclusion as the trial court based on the record before us and hold Foster failed in his burden of proof that his counsel's representation was defective and his defense was prejudiced by the proven defects. [¶ 19] Based on the foregoing reasons, Foster's appeal from the trial court's order denying Foster a new trial is dismissed and the trial court's order denying his application for post-conviction relief is affirmed in all respects. [¶ 20] VANDE WALLE, C.J., and NEUMANN, SANDSTROM and MESCHKE, JJ., concur.