Opinion ID: 1657407
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Robert Williams' letter and Bernard's Counsel's Cross-examination of Detective Zimmer

Text: Blanche asserts that Clemons' failure to object to the admission of Bernard's letter constituted prejudicial error. But when Clemons cross-examined Zimmer, he attempted to show that Zimmer had directed Williams to write the letter in order to trap Blanche. Clemons' efforts to show that Zimmer conspired with Williams to incriminate Blanche were consistent with Clemons' theme throughout the trial that the state used its power to create the outcome that it wanted and that the state was not concerned about the truth. We have repeatedly said that we will not second-guess counsel's trial tactics. See, e.g., Opsahl, 677 N.W.2d at 421. Because Clemons used the letter as a tactic to show that Zimmer was trying to manipulate the outcome of the investigation, we reject Blanche's claim that Clemons' failure to object to the letter was erroneous.