Opinion ID: 205890
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Allegedly Improper Efforts To Dissuade Orr from Testifying on His Own Behalf

Text: Orr also alleges that Cohn ineffectively assisted him by improperly dissuading him from testifying on his own behalf. Orr's argument is misplaced. As the district court noted in its denial of Orr's new-trial motion, Orr cannot and does not claim that he was unaware of his right to testify. The court engaged the defendant in an elaborate discussion concerning his right to testify, his right to refuse to testify and what the jury would be told under either of those circumstances. Furthermore, at the district court's evidentiary hearing on his new trial motion, Orr conceded that Cohn never told him he could not testify. The record reflects that Orr knew that he could decide whether to testify on his own behalf. Moreover, we consistently have affirmed that a defense counsel's decision not to call a witness is a `virtually unchallengeable decision of trial strategy.' Watkins, 486 F.3d at 465 (quoting United States v. Staples, 410 F.3d 484, 488 (8th Cir.2005)). Trial counsel could not recall at the evidentiary hearing whether he spoke with Orr about his decision to testify. However, Orr admitted that Cohn advised Orr not to testify because the government would likely attempt to discredit Orr with evidence of his past drug-related convictions and activities. As the district court correctly concluded on this point, Cohn's advice to Orr not to testify `to prevent the government from cross-examining [Orr] about an earlier drug conviction clearly falls within the limits of reasonable trial strategy.' (quoting Sumlin v. U.S., 46 F.3d 48, 49 (8th Cir.1995)). Accordingly, Cohn did not render ineffective assistance of counsel in advising Orr not to testify, and the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Orr's new trial motion to the extent it sought relief on that basis.