Opinion ID: 2714924
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Investigation of Lay Witnesses

Text: Gomez argues that Moser's investigation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness because he failed to find certain lay witnesses. Defense counsel has a duty to make reasonable investigations or to make a reasonable decision that makes particular investigations unnecessary. Id. at 691. The reasonableness of counsel's actions may be determined or substantially influenced by the defendant's own statements or actions. Id. For example, when the facts that support a certain potential line of defense 20 In re Pers. Restraint of Gomez No. 86711-9 are generally known to counsel because of what the defendant has said, the need for further investigation may be considerably diminished or eliminated altogether. Id. Here, Moser states that he got most of his facts from the dependency proceedings and only a few new facts from Gomez herself. After the start of trial, Gomez suggested that Moser call her friends to testify, but Moser chose not to do so because he had heard them testify at the dependency proceedings, considered them mere character witnesses, and thought they could not testify to specific facts related to Rafael's death or injuries. Moser also chose to make a limited investigation of CPS workers because he had heard some of them testify at the dependency proceedings and did not think any of them had actually seen Rafael's allegedly odd behaviors. Nonetheless, when Gomez suggested that Moser contact Graciela Alvarado, a CPS worker, Moser made numerous attempts to interview her and even tried to subpoena her but to no avail. All of these facts suggest that Moser was generally aware of the facts and witnesses that supported Gomez's argument that Rafael's injuries resulted from accidents or his odd behaviors. His choice not to develop this argument 21 In re Pers. Restraint of Gomez No. 86711-9 was correspondingly reasonable. Thus, we conclude that Moser made an objectively reasonable investigation of lay witnesses.