Opinion ID: 1970062
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appellate Counsel Ineffective Assistance

Text: In order to prevail on his claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, Stone was required to show that his counsel's representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that, but for counsel's unprofessional errors, there is a reasonable probability that the outcome of the proceedings would have been different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 688, 694, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 2064-65, 2068, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). Although not insurmountable, the Strickland standard is highly demanding and leads to a strong presumption that the representation was professionally reasonable. Flamer v. State, Del.Supr., 585 A.2d 736, 753 (1990). Therefore, Stone was required to set forth concrete allegations of actual prejudice or else risk summary dismissal. See Younger v. State, Del.Supr., 580 A.2d 552, 556 (1990). Stone claims that he was denied the right to effective assistance of counsel on appeal because his appellate counsel failed to obtain a transcript of the October 29, 1993 habitual offender hearing for use on direct appeal. Stone, however, has failed to demonstrate how the outcome of the appeal would have been different had the transcript been reviewed by this Court. See Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. at 694, 104 S.Ct. at 2068. Stone has failed to sustain his burden of setting forth concrete allegations of actual prejudice. Younger v. State, 580 A.2d at 556. Accordingly, his allegation of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel is without merit.