Opinion ID: 884113
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Was the defendant denied the effective assistance of counsel?

Text: Leyba claims his Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel was violated because his defense counsel only offered a deliberate homicide jury instruction. On appeal, Leyba contends his defense was based on mitigating circumstances and his defense counsel should have offered an instruction which would have allowed the jury to consider whether he was guilty of mitigated deliberate homicide. We review claims of ineffective assistance of counsel based on a two-part test set forth in Strickland v. Washington (1984), 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674. The defendant must first establish that counsel's performance was deficient in that counsel did not act within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. at 2064; Walker v. State (1993), 261 Mont. 1, 6, 862 P.2d 1, 4; State v. Senn (1990), 244 Mont. 56, 59, 795 P.2d 973, 975. To satisfy the second prong of the test, the defendant must establish that the deficient performance prejudiced him so as to deprive him of a fair trial. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. at 2064; Walker, 862 P.2d at 4. The defendant must prove both elements of the test and the burden is heavy on a defendant seeking to reverse a judgment on the grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel. Walker, 862 P.2d at 4 (citing State v. McColley (1991), 247 Mont. 524, 526, 807 P.2d 1358, 1360). We addressed a claim similar to Leyba's in State v. Sheppard (1995), 270 Mont. 122, 890 P.2d 754 ( Sheppard II ). After we affirmed the defendant's conviction for sexual intercourse without consent in State v. Sheppard (1992), 253 Mont. 118, 832 P.2d 370 ( Sheppard I ), the defendant sought post-conviction relief in the district court. Sheppard claimed ineffective assistance of counsel because his attorney failed to offer a jury instruction on a lesser offense. In affirming the district court's denial of post-conviction relief, we stated that when defense counsel makes a tactical decision to forgo an instruction that is inconsistent with the defense, we will not find error supporting an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Sheppard II, 890 P.2d at 758 (citing State v. Johnson (1993), 257 Mont. 157, 163, 848 P.2d 496, 499). Furthermore, we have stated that in order to constitute ineffective assistance, acts of counsel must stem from neglect or ignorance rather than from informed, professional deliberation. State v. Paulson (1991), 250 Mont. 32, 44, 817 P.2d 1137, 1144-45. The record indicates that Leyba's defense at trial was that he killed Miller in self-defense. Defense counsel provided notice to the State that he would rely on a self-defense theory and that the issue for the jury would be whether the use of force by Leyba was justified. Defense counsel presented witnesses who testified that Leyba was a peaceful person and a good father and husband. Witnesses testified that Miller was in a bad mood on the morning he was killed. Defense counsel presented psychological testimony to explain that Leyba was faced with a fight or flight response to a life-threatening situation. Leyba claimed the brutal killing was an emotionally charged response to a violent attack by Miller. All of this evidence was consistent with Leyba's self-defense claim. Leyba also made it clear to the District Court that he did not want the jury to consider the mitigated deliberate homicide instructions. After the State had requested that the mitigated deliberate homicide instructions be withdrawn, the following exchange took place: DEFENSE COUNSEL: I've spoken about this with my client, and we agree those will be withdrawn and we will not offer a mitigated deliberate  TONY LEYBA: I want it deliberate. If they are going to find me guilty, I want it deliberate. The District Court then withdrew the mitigated deliberate homicide instructions. Leyba and his attorney made a tactical decision to seek absolute acquittal on the theory of self-defense. Such a decision was consistent with Leyba's theory of self-defense and was a trial strategy based on informed professional deliberation. It was not the result of neglect or deficient performance on the part of defense counsel. A similar situation was presented in Bashor v. Risley (9th Cir.1984), 730 F.2d 1228, cert. denied (1984), 469 U.S. 838, 105 S.Ct. 137, 83 L.Ed.2d 77, where a defendant convicted of deliberate homicide argued that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to give the jury the option of convicting him of negligent or mitigated deliberate homicide. In rejecting his argument, the Ninth Circuit stated as follows: It is true that counsel did not offer a negligent homicide instruction and that he objected to the mitigated deliberate homicide instruction. The record discloses that counsel did so not out of ignorance of the law but as the result of a tactical decision that the jury should be forced to the choice of finding Bashor guilty of deliberate homicide or acquitting him outright. With the benefit of hindsight we know that this strategy was incorrect; however, it did not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel. Bashor, 730 F.2d at 1241. Now that hindsight demonstrates his trial strategy was not successful, Leyba seeks a second opportunity to try the case under a different theory. We will not, however, second-guess trial tactics and strategy. Walker, 862 P.2d at 4; State v. Johnson (1993), 257 Mont. 157, 163, 848 P.2d 496, 499. The performance of Leyba's counsel was not deficient and was within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases. Having determined that Leyba's claim does not satisfy the first element of the Strickland test, it is unnecessary to analyze the second element of the test. We conclude that Leyba was not denied his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel.