Opinion ID: 2162009
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The trial court's rationale.

Text: The trial judge's reasons for denying the motion without a hearing do not persuade us. The judge failed altogether to address Dobson's most plausible claim, namely, that counsel's promise of an alibi in his opening statement, combined with his subsequent failure to present available alibi testimony, substantially prejudiced Dobson's defense. The potential harm that may flow from such a scenario has been recognized by the courts in the decisions cited by Dobson to the trial judge. See Harris, supra, 894 F.2d at 879; Anderson, supra, 858 F.2d at 19. The appearance that the defense has overstated its evidence, and cannot be trusted to keep its promises, may have a significant effect on the jury's evaluation of a case, and especially of a close case. In the absence of a finding by the judge addressing Dobson's main contention, we are compelled to conclude that the order denying the motion without a hearing was based on a misapprehension as to the precise issue before him. [10]