Opinion ID: 2001201
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: may 9, 1986, meeting

Text: Ryan claims the district court erred in finding that any claims with regard to the May 9, 1986, meeting are procedurally barred. A motion for postconviction relief cannot be used to secure review of issues which were known to the defendant and could have been litigated on direct appeal. State v. Moore, supra ; State v. Dandridge, 255 Neb. 364, 585 N.W.2d 433 (1998). Additionally, an appellate court will not entertain a successive motion for postconviction relief unless the motion affirmatively shows on its face that the basis relied upon for relief was not available at the time the movant filed the prior motion. State v. Williams, 247 Neb. 931, 531 N.W.2d 222 (1995), overruled on other grounds, State v. Burlison, 255 Neb. 190, 583 N.W.2d 31 (1998). Once a motion for postconviction relief has been judicially determined, any subsequent motion for such relief from the same conviction and sentence may be dismissed unless the motion affirmatively shows on its face that the basis relied upon for relief was not available at the time the prior motion was filed. State v. Lindsay, 246 Neb. 101, 517 N.W.2d 102 (1994). These procedural rules are necessary because postconviction proceedings are not a tool whereby a defendant can continue to bring successive motions for relief. See, State v. Fletcher, 253 Neb. 1029, 573 N.W.2d 752 (1998); State v. Thieszen, 252 Neb. 208, 560 N.W.2d 800 (1997); State v. Whitmore, 238 Neb. 125, 469 N.W.2d 527 (1991) (purpose of affording postconviction relief is not to permit defendant endless appeals on matters already decided). The postconviction process exists to correct prejudicial constitutional error in criminal proceedings. See Neb.Rev.Stat. § 29-3001 (Reissue 1995). The need for finality in the criminal process requires that a defendant bring all claims for relief at the first opportunity. See State v. Otey, 236 Neb. 915, 464 N.W.2d 352 (1991). A criminal defendant cannot wait to see if some appellate claims will succeed and, when they do not, dust off other claims and subsequently attempt to litigate them. See, State v. Fletcher, supra ; State v. Thieszen, supra ; State v. Whitmore, supra . A defendant is entitled to bring a second proceeding for postconviction relief only if the grounds relied upon did not exist at the time the first motion was filed. State v. Otey, supra . We have recognized two circumstances which provide a new ground for relief constituting an exception to the procedural bar in postconviction proceedings. First, if a defendant brings a motion for postconviction relief based on ineffective assistance of trial or direct appeal counsel which could not have been raised earlier, this is a basis for relief that did not exist at the time of the prior proceeding. State v. Stewart, 242 Neb. 712, 496 N.W.2d 524 (1993). Secondly, if a defendant brings a successive motion for postconviction relief based on newly discovered evidence that was not available at the time the prior motion was filed, this is a basis for relief that did not exist at the time of the prior proceeding because it was not available to the defendant. See, State v. Keithley, 247 Neb. 638, 529 N.W.2d 541 (1995); State v. Lindsay, supra . Whether a claim raised in a postconviction proceeding is procedurally barred is a question of law. See, State v. Bennett, 256 Neb. 747, 591 N.W.2d 779 (1999); State v. Moore, 256 Neb. 553, 591 N.W.2d 86 (1999).