Opinion ID: 777262
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Counsel's failure to make an opening statement

Text: 44 Moss first contends that his counsel's failure to make an opening statement was both objectively unreasonable and prejudicial. Although Modelski reserved her right to make an opening statement, she never exercised this right. Furthermore, Modelski testified that she could not remember whether she had made an opening statement, but that it would be unusual for her not to do so. 45 A trial counsel's failure to make an opening statement, however, does not automatically establish the ineffective assistance of counsel. United States v. Haddock, 12 F.3d 950, 955 (10th Cir.1993) (holding that defense counsel's decision not to present an opening statement because he did not know what Haddock would say on the witness stand was not constitutionally deficient performance); United States v. Rodriguez-Ramirez, 777 F.2d 454, 458 (9th Cir.1985) (The timing of an opening statement, and even the decision whether to make one at all, is ordinarily a mere matter of trial tactics and in such cases will not constitute the incompetence basis for a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.); United States v. Salovitz, 701 F.2d 17, 20-21 (2d Cir.1983) (noting that trial counsel's decision to waive an opening statement is often a matter of trial strategy and ordinarily will not form the basis for a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel). 46 In the present case, Gould's counsel made an opening statement in which he discussed issues that applied to both Gould and Moss, such as the burden of proof and the credibility of witnesses. Modelski's decision not to make an opening statement at that point prevented her from having to disclose her trial strategy before the government presented its case. Williams v. Beto, 354 F.2d 698, 703 (5th Cir.1965) (noting that trial counsel's decision not to make an opening statement was a matter of professional judgment, and ... was very likely the wiser course to follow because of the strong case against the defendant). Furthermore, an opening statement was unnecessary at the conclusion of the government's proof, because Modelski did not offer any evidence or present any witnesses. See Lewis v. United States, 11 F.2d 745, 747 (6th Cir.1926) (noting that an opening statement should not have been made by counsel, if he did not expect to introduce evidence tending to substantiate it). 47 Even if this decision was not a strategic one, Moss has not articulated how the absence of an opening statement prejudiced him. Moss's conclusory allegations are insufficient to justify a finding that an opening statement would have created the reasonable probability of a different outcome in his trial. Nguyen v. Reynolds, 131 F.3d 1340, 1350 (10th Cir.1997) (holding that [d]efense counsel's failure to make an opening statement was nothing more than a tactical decision that did not adversely affect Nguyen). We therefore conclude that Modelski's failure to make an opening statement did not constitute a constitutionally deficient performance. 48