Opinion ID: 785897
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Secure Continuance

Text: 20 Missouri has detailed procedural rules to secure trial continuances. See Mo. Sup.Ct. R. 24.09, 24.10. Armstrong's trial counsel failed to follow these procedural rules when requesting a continuance, and the trial court did not mention the rules in denying the continuance. The district court concluded trial counsel's failure to comply with the continuance rules or to secure a continuance did not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. Armstrong has not raised, briefed, or argued this issue. Instead, Armstrong focuses on trial counsel's failure to secure the attendance of the witnesses at trial. We believe the resolution of the unresolved issue discussed above may impact the resolution of this issue as well. Thus, we also remand this issue to the district court to analyze the Uniform Act's impact, if any, on the ineffective assistance claim regarding trial counsel's failure to secure a continuance. 21