Opinion ID: 1958816
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 19

Heading: Summary and Holding

Text: We have made an independent constitutional appraisal of Harris's insufficiency of counsel claim on the totality of the circumstances as gleaned from the entire record. We have determined what those circumstances are from the factual findings accepted by us which were arrived at by the court below upon its judging of the credibility of the witnesses and its weighing of the evidence, from the undisputed facts and from the physical evidence before the court. We have evaluated each allegation of error in the light of the teachings of Strickland and Cronic. We have concluded, for the reasons we have set forth herein, that Russell's assistance was reasonable considering all the circumstances. That is to say, the purpose of the Sixth Amendment's effective assistance of counsel guarantee to ensure that criminal defendants receive a fair trial was not violated by Russell's performance as counsel for Harris. Harris did not meet his burden of showing that, on the particular facts of this case, Russell's representation was not within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases. We so hold. The denial by the Circuit Court of Baltimore County of the motion to withdraw the guilty pleas is affirmed. In view of our affirmance of the denial of the motion to withdraw the guilty pleas, all that remains to be done is for us to review the death sentence as we are required to do by Code, Art. 27, § 414(a). See Harris II, 299 Md. at 519, 474 A.2d 890. The parties shall submit such supplementary briefs on the issue as they may deem necessary pursuant to a schedule established by the Clerk of this Court, and we shall set the case for oral argument. ORDER OF 27 JULY 1984 OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY DENYING HARRIS'S MOTION TO WITHDRAW HIS PLEAS OF GUILTY AFFIRMED; CASE TO REMAIN IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF MARYLAND FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT TO THIS OPINION; COSTS TO BE PAID BY APPELLANT. COLE, Judge, dissenting. The Court holds in this case that defense counsel's representation of the defendant falls within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases. Because I believe that trial counsel's performance here is a textbook example of ineffective assistance of counsel, I respectfully dissent.