Opinion ID: 1369544
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Admission of testimony about Storey invoking his right to counsel

Text: Storey claims that appellate counsel was ineffective by not appealing the trial court's decision [a]llowing testimony about Tim invoking counsel because it was contrary to Dexter and Zindel.  Officer Plummer testified that while he was interrogating Storey, he told Storey that he did not believe him. Storey agreed that he had been untruthful and said he would tell the police what really happened, but maybe I need to talk to a lawyer. Trial counsel objected to the testimony and raised it in a motion for new trial. Appellate counsel testified that it was an error for the officer to have mentioned the right, but was merely a quick reference and insignificant. Appellate counsel did not think it would require reversal. The motion court found that appellate counsel consciously decided not to raise it on appeal because it would not bring reversal. Because counsel's decision not to appeal the trial court's ruling was trial strategy, it is not a ground for ineffective assistance of counsel. Chambers, 891 S.W.2d at 109.