Opinion ID: 885360
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 18

Heading: Failure to move for a reconsideration.

Text: ś 142 Dawson argues that he received ineffective assistance because his counsel failed to move the sentencing court for a reconsideration of its conclusion that Dawson posed a substantial and continuing threat and that his chances for rehabilitation were nonexistent. Dawson contends that the sentencing court's conclusions were based on erroneous information and lack any factual basis. ś 143 In State v. Dawson, 233 Mont. at 363, 761 P.2d at 363, this Court upheld Dawson's death sentence pursuant to § 46-18-310, MCA, which provides for automatic review of a death sentence. In that case, we determined that the evidence supported the sentencing court's finding of those aggravating factors, and concluded that the court's sentence of death was appropriate under the circumstances. Dawson, 233 Mont. at 363, 761 P.2d at 363. ś 144 Therefore, Dawson can show no prejudice from his counsel's failure to move for reconsideration of the sentencing court's conclusions. Accordingly, we conclude that the District Court did not err when it found that Dawson did not receive ineffective assistance as a result of his counsel's failure to move for a rehearing. ś 145 Accordingly, we conclude that the District Court did not err when it found that Dawson did not receive ineffective assistance of counsel at the sentencing phase.