Opinion ID: 1859418
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Reasons for the Distinction in Applicable Standards of Review.

Text: The reason why the standards of review of preserved and unpreserved error on direct appeal are different from each other, and why both are in turn different from the standard for review of a post-conviction motion, is explained by the very different focuses of the inquiries under each standard. On direct appeal, the issue is whether the trial court erred in its rulings at trial. Appellate review of preserved error is for prejudice, not mere error, and [it] will reverse only if the error is so prejudicial that it deprived the defendant of a fair trial. State v. Tokar, 918 S.W.2d 753, 761 (Mo. banc 1996). If no objection was made or the error was otherwise not preserved, then the trial court cannot normally be accused of error in its rulings, much less prejudicial error. In order to serve the need for accuracy in the outcome of a trial, appellate courts have the discretion to nonetheless review for plain error if manifest injustice would otherwise result. Rule 30.20; State v. Johnson, 968 S.W.2d 123, 127 (Mo. banc 1998). But, both of these standards presuppose that all the essential elements of a presumptively accurate and fair proceeding were present in the proceeding whose result is challenged. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052. By contrast, when a post-conviction motion is filed alleging ineffective assistance of counsel, defendant is asserting the absence of one of the crucial assurances that the result of the proceeding is reliable, so finality concerns are somewhat weaker and the appropriate standard of prejudice should be somewhat lower. Id. The ultimate determination thus, is not the propriety of the trial court's actions with regard to an alleged error, but whether defendant has suffered a genuine deprivation of his right to effective assistance of counsel, such that this Court's confidence in the fairness of the proceeding is undermined. Cf. Wilson v. State, 813 S.W.2d 833, 834 (Mo. banc 1991); Walker v. State, 698 S.W.2d 871, 875 (Mo. App. W.D.1985). Of course, as Strickland recognized, 466 U.S. at 694, 697, 104 S.Ct 2052 this theoretical difference in the two standards of review will seldom cause a court to grant post-conviction relief after it has denied relief on direct appeal, for, in most cases, an error that is not outcome-determinative on direct appeal will also fail to meet the Strickland test. Nonetheless, Strickland cautions that the distinction in the standards of review is important because there are a small number of cases in which the application of the two tests will produce different results. Id. at 697, 104 S.Ct 2052. This is borne out in the several Missouri cases that have found a basis for post-conviction relief, or recognized that such a basis could exist, despite finding no plain error on direct appeal. For instance, in Kenner v. State, 709 S.W.2d 536 (Mo.App. E.D.1986), the court noted that on direct appeal it had held that the trial court did not commit plain error in admitting evidence of other crimes committed by defendant, where counsel did not object to admission of this evidence. Id. at 539. There, as here, the State argued that claims rejected on direct appeal are not cognizable in his post-conviction motion. Id. at 540. Kenner rejected this argument based on the distinction between the issues before a court on direct appeal and on post-conviction review, stating: In reviewing the trial court's decision on movant's Rule 27.26 motion we are not determining the propriety of the admittance into evidence of testimony and photographs ... We are determining whether defense counsel's failure to timely and properly object to this evidence constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel thereby prejudicing movant. We find that the untimeliness ... was highly prejudicial and is grounds for granting movant[`]s Rule 27.26 motion. Id. (emphasis added). Other opinions recognize that the two inquiries are different and that denial of a plain error claim is not dispositive of the question whether counsel was ineffective in failing to preserve the issue as to which plain error was not found. See, e.g., State v. Sublett, 887 S.W.2d 618, 620 (Mo.App. W.D.1994) (court found no plain error, said it could not say how it might have ruled were the issue preserved, and remanded for determination of the separate issue whether counsel would be found ineffective under Rule 29.15 for failing to object). [6]