Opinion ID: 1685081
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: habeas

Text: In the petition for writ of habeas corpus, Muhammad asserts five claims of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. [9] As his first claim, Muhammad argues that his appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise any issues on appeal regarding the alleged limitations put on the participation of Muhammad's standby counsel, Fredrick Replogle (Replogle). At the evidentiary hearing on Muhammad's 3.850 motion, Replogle adopted an affidavit that had been submitted with Muhammad's previous 3.850 motion. The affidavit alleged that Replogle did not consult with Muhammad during the trial, did no investigation, was totally unaware of Muhammad's background, and had been ordered by the trial judge not to consult with Muhammad. Appellate counsel's ineffectiveness is appropriately raised in a petition for writ of habeas corpus. See Freeman v. State, 761 So.2d 1055, 1069 (Fla.2000). In order to grant habeas relief on the basis of ineffectiveness of appellate counsel, this Court must determine the following: [F]irst, whether the alleged omissions are of such magnitude as to constitute a serious error or substantial deficiency falling measurably outside the range of professionally acceptable performance and, second, whether the deficiency in performance compromised the appellate process to such a degree as to undermine confidence in the correctness of the result. Pope v. Wainwright, 496 So.2d 798, 800 (Fla.1986); see also Freeman, 761 So.2d at 1069; Thompson v. State, 759 So.2d 650, 660 (Fla.2000). The defendant has the burden of alleging a specific, serious omission or overt act upon which the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel can be based. Freeman, 761 So.2d at 1069. Moreover, appellate counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to pursue a meritless claim. See Johnson v. Singletary, 695 So.2d 263, 266-67 (Fla.1996). [10] At the outset, Muhammad's characterization of the facts involved with the participation of his standby counsel are incorrect. Despite Muhammad's claim that standby counsel was not permitted to assist him, at the start of the trial, the court specifically informed Muhammad of Replogle's presence in the courtroom and told Muhammad that if he needed assistance, Replogle was available. [11] Moreover, before the jury was instructed, the following discussion on Muhammad's decision not to utilize Replogle took place: MR. REPLOGLE: I have offered to assist the defendant in reviewing the instructions. Could we, perhaps, go into the library to do that rather than back to the holding cell? COURT: You have consistently refused the Court's offer of Mr. Replogle's assistance. I don't want to force anything upon you. MR. MUHAMMAD: Your honor, I want to go on the record as understanding the Court. I[sic] have entered an order denying my request for assistance of counsel. I want the record to reflect, it is my understanding that the Court entered an order appointing Mr. Replogle as standby counsel in this case. Mr. Replogle, he asked that did I want him to assist me in reviewing these instructions, and I stated to him that it was not necessary, that if he wanted to review these instructions, he is welcome to do so. However, I don't want to intimate in any way that Mr. Replogle is assistant [sic] of counsel because Mr. Replogle has not assisted me in this cause. COURT: I understand, that's what I wanted to record. Mr. Replogle, under those circumstances, I don't think that you should. Mr. Muhammad, I have asked Mr. Replogle to be here as standby counsel in the event that you cannot proceed. MR. MUHAMMAD: Yes, sir. COURT: I also asked him to be here in the event that you needed some legal jury [sic] and that he would provide that, upon your request, only upon your request, in that I didn't because of our previous concerns about this that you have a right to represent yourself. The Court in no way is forcing counsel upon you. As a result, if you request it, Mr. Replogle assisting you in going over those jury instructions, he indicated to me that he is willing to do so, but without your request, I ask Mr. Replogle to remain in his seat away from you so it does not appear that you are represented by counsel or that he is participating in any way. Thus, it is clear from the record that Muhammad did not want to appear to have acquiesced to the limited role that his standby counsel was performing. Moreover, the court took seriously Muhammad's desire not to insinuate that Replogle was providing him any assistance. Muhammad's decision to not avail himself of his designated standby counsel, even though he was aware Replogle was available, was his own, and not the trial judge's decision. In McKaskle v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168, 104 S.Ct. 944, 79 L.Ed.2d 122 (1984), the United States Supreme Court stated: First, the pro se defendant is entitled to preserve actual control over the case he chooses to present to the jury. This is the core of the Faretta [12] right. If standby counsel's participation over the defendant's objection effectively allows counsel to make or substantially interfere with any significant tactical decisions, or to control the questioning of witnesses, or to speak instead of the defendant on any matter of importance, the Faretta right is eroded. Second, participation by standby counsel without the defendant's consent should not be allowed to destroy the jury's perception that the defendant is representing himself. The defendant's appearance in the status of one conducting his own defense is important in a criminal trial, since the right to appear pro se exists to affirm the accused's individual dignity and autonomy. Id. at 178, 104 S.Ct. 944 (footnote omitted). [13] In the instant case, Muhammad's remark that he did not want to intimate that Replogle was providing him with any assistance demonstrates that Muhammad did not want Replogle's assistance and he wanted to make sure that there was no insinuation or appearance that Replogle was in any way acting as his counsel. Any limitation that the trial court put on standby counsel was apparently based on Muhammad's repeatedly stated desire that he be allowed his right to self-representation unimpeded. Therefore, Muhammad is not entitled to relief on this claim.